Tackling 14 risk factors could prevent or delay nearly half of dementia cases, study reveals
Tackling 14 risk factors could prevent or delay nearly half of dementia cases, study reveals
A study reveals that nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 key risk factors, starting from childhood. This discovery offers hope in the global fight against a condition that affects millions of people worldwide
What is dementia?
Dementia is a condition that affects memory, thinking, problem-solving, language and other cognitive abilities, interfering with daily life and activities. Rather than being a specific disease, dementia is a collection of symptoms caused by various underlying conditions. There are several different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common. Individuals may also exhibit changes in mood and behaviour, struggle with organising tasks and experience disorientation. As the condition advances, managing daily activities becomes increasingly difficult, affecting overall quality of life.
New risk factors identified for dementia
World-leading experts have discovered two new risk factors for dementia: high cholesterol and vision loss. These factors are responsible for nearly one in ten dementia cases globally. The newly identified risks add to the 12 known factors that increase the likelihood of developing dementia. These factors include genetics, smoking status and other health conditions.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Also read |AI tool predicts Alzheimer's disease onset better than clinical trials. Here is how it works
Global impact of dementia
Dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide. It is caused by various diseases, with Alzheimer's being the most common. A recent review in The Lancet journal underscores the high potential for preventing dementia. The study follows a previous report from 2020 that also emphasised the importance of prevention in combating this condition.
EU Rejects New Dementia Drug
The EU's medicine watchdog recently declined to approve lecanemab and is still reviewing donanemab. These Alzheimer's treatments, approved in the US last year and developed by Biogen and Eli Lilly, target the proteins tau and amyloid beta, which are central to disease progression. However, they come with severe side effects and high costs.
Despite decades of research and significant investment, a cure for dementia remains elusive. Some researchers hope these drugs will lead to more effective treatments in the future, while others emphasise the importance of prevention strategies for dementia.
(With inputs from agencies)