Potentially Modifiable Dementia Risk Factors in Canada: An Analysis of Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging with a
1Manuel Montero-Odasso, Departments of Medicine (Geriatrics) and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 500 Wellington Road, London, ON, Canada, N6C 0A7, mmontero@uwo.ca.
The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer'S Disease
|October 1, 2024
Summary
Nearly half of dementia cases in Canada are linked to 12 modifiable risk factors. Addressing physical inactivity, hearing loss, obesity, and hypertension is key for dementia prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Estimates suggest up to 40% of global dementia cases are linked to modifiable risk factors, but this data is lacking for Canada.
- Sleep disturbances represent an emerging risk factor not yet integrated into life-course dementia prevention models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the population impact of 12 modifiable risk factors, including sleep disturbances, on Canadian adults.
- To analyze these impacts by sex and age groups and compare findings with international data.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).
- Cross-sectional study involving 30,097 Canadian adults aged 45 and older.
- Examined Population Attributable Fractions (PAFs) for factors like physical inactivity, hearing loss, obesity, hypertension, and sleep disturbances.
Main Results:
- Physical inactivity (10.2%), hearing loss (6.5%), obesity (6.4%), and hypertension (6.2%) were the leading risk factors in midlife/later life.
- Sleep disturbances accounted for 3.0% of dementia cases.
- The 12 modifiable risk factors collectively explained approximately 52% of dementia cases in both men and women, with a combined PAF of 49.2% overall, increasing with age.
Conclusions:
- Close to 50% of dementia cases in Canada are attributable to 12 modifiable risk factors across the lifespan.
- Canadian dementia risk reduction initiatives should prioritize interventions targeting physical inactivity, hearing loss, obesity, and hypertension.
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