In a fascinating 12-year study in the Republic of Korea, researchers analyzed data from a national cohort to uncover the incidence of dementia and the population-attributable fractions (PAFs) for various risk factors. It’s like trying to figure out which ingredients contribute to a delicious but dangerous cake! They found that dementia incidence increased yearly over the study period, with physical inactivity, diabetes, and hypertension being the top contributing factors. Just like how sitting around all day, eating too much sugar, and having high blood pressure can make you sluggish and unhealthy, these risk factors were found to significantly increase the chance of developing dementia. In fact, physical inactivity alone accounted for the greatest attributed risk. By making lifestyle changes and better managing these risk factors, we can potentially lower the overall risk of dementia by 18%. The findings emphasize the importance of encouraging people to stay active, maintain a healthy diet, and control chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. If you’re intrigued by this remarkable study, dive into the underlying research to learn more!
BackgroundWe aimed to investigate the incidence of dementia by age and year as well as the population-attributable fractions (PAFs) for known dementia risk factors in Republic of Korea.MethodsA 12-year, nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted. We used customized health information from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) data from 2002 to 2017. We analyzed age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates and PAF of dementia for each risk factor such as depression, diabetes, hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, hypertension, osteoporosis and physical inactivity using Levin’s formula.ResultsOf the 794,448 subjects in the dementia-free cohort, 49,524 (6.2%) developed dementia. Dementia incidence showed annual growth from 1.56 per 1,000 person-years in 2006 to 6.94 per 1,000 person-years in 2017. Of all dementia cases, 34,544 subjects (69.8%) were female and 2,479 subjects (5.0%) were early onset dementia. AD dementia accounted for 66.5% of the total dementia incidence. Considering relative risk and prevalence, physical inactivity attributed the greatest to dementia (PAF, 8.1%), followed by diabetes (PAF, 4.2%), and hypertension (PAF, 2.9%). Altogether, the significant risk factors increased the risk of dementia by 18.0% (overall PAF).ConclusionWe provided the incidence of dementia and PAFs for dementia risk factors in Republic of Korea using a 12-year, nationwide cohort. Encouraging lifestyle modifications and more aggressive control of risk factors may effectively prevent dementia.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
Dr. Lowemann’s influence extends to the educational platform BetterSmarter.me, where he shares his insights, findings, and personal development strategies with a broader audience. His ongoing mission is shaping the way we perceive and leverage the vast capacities of the human mind, offering invaluable contributions to society’s overall success and collective well-being.