Dementia numbers are on the rise globally, but there is some evidence to suggest that the incidence is declining. A team of researchers has proposed that decreasing smoking rates and increasing education rates since the 1970s, particularly in high-income countries, may be behind this trend. The link between smoking and education and the decline in dementia incidence supports further public intervention to reduce dementia rates. Addressing risk factors associated with dementia such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity could be a way to ensure this decline continues.
According to the researchers, prior studies have shown that dementia prevalence and incidence have decreased over time, prompting the need to examine changes in dementia rates and risk factors. In a study published in The Lancet Public Health, researchers identified 12 risk factors associated with dementia, such as less education, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, depression, and more. They found that the age-standardized incidence of dementia decreased in 71 of 204 jurisdictions between 1990–2019, with significant decreases mainly seen in high-income countries.
The researchers confirmed that dementia incidence had declined in the US and Europe, showing a 44% decrease between 1992–98 and 2004–08. They highlighted that decreases in smoking and increases in education could impact dementia incidence, leading to the conclusion that public health interventions for other risk factors are worth investing in. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity exposure increased over time, indicating a potential target for future interventions. The authors emphasized the need to create environments that can help improve population health to reduce dementia rates.
Public health interventions for obesity have shown promising results, with the potential to lower the risk of dementia. This dual benefit could encourage more comprehensive and aggressive public health strategies to mitigate the risk of dementia. The researchers called for a broader approach to using public health policy rather than solely focusing on individual responsibility for health. They aim to examine the benefits of making interventions to target dementia risk factors and tackle inequalities in dementia prevention, while also considering cost savings and the safety profile of such interventions.
Looking ahead, researchers plan to explore the cost savings of population-level interventions targeting dementia risk factors and tackle inequalities in dementia prevention. They believe that moving away from placing responsibility on individuals to change their health and focusing on creating environments that can improve population health will have a positive impact on reducing dementia rates. Overall, addressing risk factors associated with dementia through public health interventions could potentially save significant amounts of money for countries struggling with the financial costs of supporting people with dementia.
