Less Risk of Dementia For Younger Generations

A new study conducted in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe shows that younger generations are less likely to develop dementia than older generations.

“Younger generations are less likely to develop dementia at the same age as their parents or grandparents, and that’s a hopeful sign,” says Dr Sabrina Lenzen, a co-author of the study. “For example, in the US, among people aged 81 to 85, 25.1% of those born between 1890–1913 had dementia, compared to 15.5% of those born between 1939–1943.”

Data from 62,437 people aged 70 and older, collected from three long-running surveys covering the US, England, and parts of Europe, were analysed using an algorithm that took into account the participants’ responses to different metrics, including difficulties with everyday activities and their scores on cognitive tests. The participants were divided into eight different cohorts, representing different generations, and into six age groups. Compulsory education, smoking bans, and improvements in medical treatments for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and hearing loss might contribute to the decline in dementia risk among younger generations. According to the World Health Organization, 57 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2021, with the trend more pronounced in women.