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Dementia threat drop throughout generations highlights the worth of public well being


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An individual aged 75 to 80 is much less more likely to have dementia immediately in comparison with somebody of the identical age a number of a long time in the past, a College of Queensland examine has discovered.

UQ researchers analyzed knowledge from greater than 62,000 individuals over the age of 70 who have been born from 1890 to 1948 to find out whether or not there have been generational variations within the prevalence of dementia. The outcomes are revealed within the journal JAMA Community Open.

Dr. Sabrina Lenzen from UQ’s Heart for the Enterprise and Economics of Well being stated it was possible enhancements in cardiovascular well being, schooling, dwelling circumstances and entry to well being care had contributed to the findings.

“We frequently see statistics that present dementia prevalence charges are growing—our examine does not refute that,” Dr. Lenzen stated.

“As extra individuals dwell longer, the entire numbers of individuals recognized with dementia will develop.

“What we discovered was a statistically important decline in individuals from newer beginning cohorts having dementia.”

Ph.D. pupil Xiaoxue Dou labored with Dr. Lenzen to investigate knowledge from 62,437 individuals, together with 21,069 from the U.S., 32,490 from Europe and eight,878 from England.

Members have been divided into eight beginning cohorts and 6 age teams.

Cohorts have been grouped roughly into 5-birth-year blocks, with the earliest together with individuals born between 1890 and 1913 and the latest between 1944 and 1948.

The six age teams have been 71–75, 76–80, 81–85, 86–90, 91–95, and 96 and older.

Study finds dementia risk drops across generations
Imply prevalence of dementia by age teams and beginning cohorts within the U.S., Europe, and England. Credit score: JAMA Community Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13384

“This enabled us to look at how dementia prevalence modifications with age and throughout generations whereas considering when the surveys have been carried out,” Dr. Lenzen stated.

She stated the outcomes constantly confirmed individuals born extra lately have been much less more likely to have dementia, together with within the U.S. the place 25.1% of individuals aged 81–85 who have been born between 1890 and 1913 had dementia, in comparison with 15.5% of these born between 1939 and 1943.

“There was a number of enchancment in schooling—significantly for ladies if, for instance, we evaluate to the child boomer era,” Dr. Lenzen stated.

“We have seen enhancements in cardiovascular well being, higher management of blood stress and ldl cholesterol—all threat components for dementia.

“We see this robust correlation between age and dementia, however I believe it is actually essential to know that it is not simply age driving these onsets.”

Dr. Lenzen stated whereas the outcomes offered some hope, there was a necessity for continued funding in public well being campaigns.

“A few of the threat components have been enhancing however we now have been seeing a shift by way of excessive weight problems charges and issues like air air pollution,” she stated.

“We all know these are additionally associated to dementia, so it is not sure these tendencies will proceed.”

Extra info:
Xiaoxue Dou et al, Generational Variations in Age-Particular Dementia Prevalence Charges, JAMA Community Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13384

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