Incidence of age-related dementia has decreased by half

Research conducted by specialists from the University of Queensland in collaboration with international colleagues has shown that the risk of developing dementia in old age is decreasing in modern generations compared to previous ones. This reduction is especially pronounced among women. The results are published in the journal Jama Network Open.

The analysis covered more than 62 thousand people from the USA, UK, and European countries. It was found that among people aged 81-85 years, dementia was diagnosed almost twice less frequently in those born in 1939-1943 (15.5%) than in those born in 1890-1913 (25.1%).

Researchers attribute the decrease in incidence to improvements in healthcare, wider access to education, reduction in the number of smokers, as well as more effective treatment of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Specialists explain the significant risk reduction in women by the growth of educational opportunities since the mid-20th century.

However, scientists emphasize that progress may slow down, as the main preventive measures have already been implemented, and future generations may be affected by new socio-economic and environmental challenges.