Time to get your eyes checked: Vision loss among growing list of risk factors for dementia, study says – CBC

by tmnationtalk on August 1, 2024149 Views

New report identifies 14 risk factors for dementia, and what can be done to prevent them

Jul 31, 2024

Two new risk factors for dementia — vision loss and high cholesterol — have been identified in a sweeping new report in a leading medical journal.

The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia lists 14 risk factors for dementia, many of which can be influenced by lifestyle changes. Among them, untreated vision loss and high cholesterol stand out as new targets for preventative treatment alongside well-known health threats such as head injuries, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and air pollution.

As Canada’s senior population rises, so too does the prevalence of dementia. The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates one million Canadians will be living with dementia by 2030.

Dementia is a term used to describe symptoms of cognitive decline including loss of memory, thinking and personality. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

While aging is inevitable, late-life cognitive decline may not be. The Lancet Commission has reported that reductions in modifiable risk factors have the potential to prevent nearly half of dementia cases.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/dementia-visionloss-1.7280184

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