Your Risk For Dementia May Be Based On Where You Live, Study Says

While age is typically a leading factor when analyzing those who are at a higher risk of developing dementia, a new study is pointing to geographic location as being a contributor.

Dementia is a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking and social abilities. Memory loss is among its early symptoms, and can be coupled with personality changes, and trouble navigating communication and problem-solving for regular tasks.

Data from a study done by JAMA Nuerology on more than 1.2 million military veterans in the United States who received healthcare through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) between 1999 and 2021 shows as much as a 25 percent gap between risk levels based on location. While race, heart disease and diabetes are among the other usual culprits that significantly increase the chance of dementia, regional patterns still stayed consistent even after adjusting for those factors.

Researchers measured the number of new cases diagnosed each year per 1,000 people. In New Jersey, there were 11.4 cases per 1,000 person-years recorded. The Mid-Atlantic had the lowest overall score among the regions, totaling an average of 11.2 across the states.

Veterans in the southeastern portion of the country demonstrated the highest risk at 14 cases per 1,000 person-years.

"The study underscores the need to understand regional differences in dementia and the importance of region-specific prevention and intervention efforts," said senior author Dr. Kristine Yaffe, of the San Francisco VA Health Care System.

In speaking to Newsweek, Dr. Daniel Lesley, a board-certified neurologist at Remo Health, sheds light on these findings by pointing to the effects of the surrounding environment that one may be living in as a direct component.

"Avoiding environmental pollutants—such as tobacco smoke, poorly functioning gas or wood stoves, and unfiltered water in areas with known or suspected contamination (e.g., lead or other toxins)—is crucial, as these exposures negatively impact multiple aspects of health, including cognitive function."

Some risk factors for dementia are modifiable, and others are not. According to Stanford University Medicine, the following have all been identified:

• Age
• Family history
• Smoking and alcohol use
• Atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery)
• Cholesterol
• Plasma homocysteine (higher than average amino acids in the blood)
• Diabetes
• Mild cognitive impairment

The Mayo Clinic says Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia for older adults. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) people can reduce their risk of cognitive decline and dementia by:

• Being physically active
• Not smoking
• Avoiding harmful use of alcohol
• Controlling their weight
• Eating a healthy diet
• Maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
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Additional risk factors can be depression, social isolation, low educational attainment and cognitive inactivity.

Adopting a brain-healthy routine that is fit with prioritizing adequate and quality sleep, participating in meaningful social and cognitive activities and receiving regular medical check-ups to monitor and manage 'invisible' factors (such as insulin resistance or diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated blood lipid levels) can all be key strategies to lower risk.