Potential for prevention of dementia in Denmark

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Previous global estimates suggest 40% of dementia cases are linked to 12 modifiable risk factors.
• Understanding national-specific risk factor prevalence is crucial for effective dementia prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To calculate national population attributable fractions (PAFs) for dementia risk factors.
• To model the impact of risk factor reduction on dementia prevalence using potential impact fractions (PIFs).

Main Methods:

• Calculation of national PAFs for individual dementia risk factors.
• Modeling of PIFs based on varying percentage reductions in risk factor prevalence.

Main Results:

• The overall adjusted PAF for all modifiable risk factors was 35.2%.
• Physical inactivity, hearing loss, hypertension, and obesity represented 64% of the total prevention potential.
• A 10% reduction in risk factor prevalence could lead to a 4.1% decrease in dementia, while a 20% reduction could yield an 8.1% decrease.

Conclusions:

• Country-specific data on risk factor prevalence is essential for relevant dementia prevention estimates.
• Physical inactivity, hearing loss, hypertension, and obesity are key targets for dementia prevention, particularly in Denmark.