A study recently undertaken by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY, found that the rate of dementia in adults has decreased among the group born after 1929.  Researchers confirmed that while the incidence of dementia increased as those who were studied grew older, the year of birth played a significant role.  Measuring incidence of dementia per 100 person-years, researchers found rates of:

• 5.09 for those born before 1920
• 3.11 for those born 1920-1924
• 1.73 for those born 1925-1929
• 0.23 for those born after 1929

There is still a need for research to understand the cause of this positive trend.  Healthcare providers continue to advise that preventative care decreases the incidence of cardiovascular disease for those with high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol.  The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends lifestyle modification to lower risk by consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and limiting consumption of saturated fat.  Coupled with diet, the AAFP recommends 3-4 sessions of moderate exercise per week.

While the trend is positive regarding the diagnosis of dementia, the aging of our population has the potential to have a dramatic impact on those affected by this disease.  According to Alzheimer’s Disease International (2015) there was a prevalence of 48.6 million cases in 2015 which is projected to increase to 131.5 million by 2050.

Those affected by dementia will be at risk as they age with the disease.  They will require diligent attention to their safety and legal needs.  Terri Chabaud & Associates is ready to help.

References

Alzheimer’s Disease International (2015). The global impact of dementia.  Retrieved from https://www.alz.co.uk/sites/default/files/pdfs/global-impact-dementia-infographic.pdf

American Academy of Family Physicians. (2017). Clinical practice guidelines: Lifestyle management to reduce cardiovascular risk.  Retrieved from http://www.aafp.org/patient-care/clinical-recommendations/all/cardiovascular-risk.html

Derby, C.A., Katz, M.J., Lipton, R.B. & Hall, C.B. (2017). Trends in dementia incidence in a birth cohort analysis of the Einstein aging study. JAMA Neurology. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/