According to a new study, people who have no dementia risk factors, including the likes of diabetes, hearing loss and smoking, have brain health similar to those who are 10 to 20 years younger than them.
The study discovered that a singular dementia risk factor has the potential to reduce cognition by the equivalent of up to three years of ageing.
The research, by Baycrest, is of the first to examine lifestyle risk factors for dementia across the entire lifespan.
Dr Annalise LaPlume, the study’s lead author said: “Our results suggest lifestyle factors may be more important than age in determining someone’s level of cognitive functioning. This is great news, since there’s a lot you can do to modify these factors, such as managing diabetes, addressing hearing loss, and getting the support you need to quit smoking.”
Dr Nicole Anderson, senior author of the study, said: “While most studies of this nature look at mid- and older-adulthood, we also included data from participants as young as 18, and we found that risk factors had a negative impact on cognitive performance across all ages. This is crucial as it means risk factors can and should be addressed as early as possible,”
The study included data from 22,117 individuals aged 18 to 89 who completed the Cogniciti Brain Health Assessment which Baycrest developed, the test consists of a background questionnaire and four cognitive tasks.
The researchers examined participants performances on memory and attention tests, and how this was impacted by eight modifiable risk factors for dementia.
The risk factors being: Hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, alcohol or substance abuse, smoking current or in the past four years), diabetes, depression, hypertension and low education (less than a high school diploma.)
Each of these factors led to a decrease in cognitive performance, to the equivalent of ageing up to three years, with each additional factor contributing the same amount of decline.
Meaning that having three risk factors could potentially lead to a cognitive performance decrease equivalent of ageing up to nine years.
The effects of the risk factors increased with age, as did the number of risk factors individuals had.
On the results, Dr LaPlume said: “All in all, our research shows that you have the power to decrease your risk of cognitive decline and dementia,”
“Start addressing any risk factors you have now, whether you’re 18 or 90, and you’ll support your brain health to help yourself age fearlessly.”
