The onset of dementia can be surprising, but various symptoms can predict the condition for as long as 20 years before symptoms occur.
A new study published by the RAND Corporation in California has shown several major assumptions that occur at age 60 that can lead to cognitive impairment and dementia in people in their 80s.
The researchers analyzed 181 possible risk factors, including demographics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle and health behaviors, health history, psycho-social factors and more.
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Below are some of the strongest predictors at age 60 that show a higher chance of developing cognitive impairment and dementia, according to the report.
See the list of 14 predictions.
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RAND researchers have uncovered several surprising risk factors for dementia, such as never drinking and never working.
1. Poor health
2. History of stroke
3. Genetics
4. Born in the Southern United States
5. Not having private health insurance at the age of 60
6. Never work or only work for a few years
7. History of diabetes
8. Having a body mass index of 35 or more
9. Never drink alcohol or drink too much
10. Never exercising
11. Scoring less on physical tests
12. Not being too careful
13. Not doing things that entertain you
14. Low cognitive function and involvement
Parental health, family size, marital history and demographics were weak predictors, according to the research.
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In an interview with Fox News Digital, co-author Peter Hudomiet, an economist at RAND in California, shared the details of the study, which worked with a large dataset and followed people “for decades.”
Parental health, family size, marital history and demographics were weak predictors, according to the research.
“Overall, we found that the risk factors had similar effects in the short and long term, which assured us that the findings from the previous literature could hold in the long term,” he said.
“However, we also had a lot of amazing discoveries.”
The researcher said he was surprised to find that those who never exercised had a “significantly greater chance” of developing dementia than those who only exercised a few times a month.
“Exercising more frequently (weekly or daily) had some benefits, but not significantly,” he said.
“In other words, the biggest risk factor for dementia was never exercising.”
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“These traits were more important predictors of dementia than having specific genes,” Hudomiet added.
Although having a body mass index (BMI) over 30 at age 60 was a weak predictor of depression, a BMI over 35 was a “strong predictor.”
The risk of dementia is “about half as high among those who exercise regularly compared to those who never exercise,” said the researcher (not pictured).
Not participating in cognitive activities at all confers a higher risk of developing dementia compared to regular participation, as well as having zero to 11 years of education compared to having high school or advanced degrees, said Hudomiet.
Another unexpected finding was the higher risk of dementia faced by Americans born in the southeastern US compared to the rest of the country.
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“This difference remained strong even when our models accounted for differences in income, health, and other differences between regions,” the researcher said.
“It is possible that the quality of education (which we could not measure in our data) was lower in the Southeastern part of the US, especially in the older age groups we examined.”
“Less than 1% of health care dollars go to educating the public about good health practices,” according to a gerontologist.
People who were not covered by a private health insurance plan at age 60 had an 11% higher chance of developing dementia than those who had coverage, Hudomiet added.
That’s “partly because private health insurance helps people stay healthy longer,” he said.
The results of the study showed that “maintaining good physical and mental health helps not only to stay in shape, but also to stay sharp and delay cognitive decline,” Hudomiet told Fox News Digital.
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Gerontologist Dr. Macie P. Smith in South Carolina, who was not involved in the study, also reacted to the findings in a separate interview with Fox News Digital, saying that the researchers “are transparent.”
“Having this well-researched information presented … brings a heightened sense of urgency to everyone involved in the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADDR),” he wrote in an emailed response.
Human behavior is less dangerous than other behaviors and behaviors such as exercise, said the researcher.
Smith said it was “shocking” that never drinking alcohol increased the risk of dementia.
“This surprises me because drinking too much alcohol increases the problem of brain malfunction and causes a person to develop dementia with alcohol,” she said.
The expert indicated that independent data may have led to this discovery – or red wine may have been involved, as it was found “to have brain-enhancing properties, such as resveratrol.”
While cognitive decline is sometimes impossible to prevent, Hudomiet said some risks can be reduced through lifestyle changes.
These include exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy body weight, getting the right nutrition and engaging in mentally challenging activities.
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“Health care providers and governments should consider promoting healthy behaviors in the elderly population and strengthening people’s access to health care, which can reduce the prevalence of dementia and the burden of the disease in the future,” Hudomiet suggested.
“Understanding that what’s good for the heart is good for the brain and following a healthy lifestyle helps people control their thoughts,” one expert said.
Smith added that reducing the risk of dementia “doesn’t start or end with medicine.”
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For those in middle age, heeding these early predictions “is a matter of life and death,” he said.
“It is the duty of every sane person to listen to the warning signs that your body gives you,” he said. “Your body is always reminding you of things your brain sometimes ignores.”
“You have control over what your life looks like down the road,” he continued.
“The choices you make now will determine how you will live later.”
Source of article: The Dementia Report reveals ‘shocking’ signs at the age of 60 that you will develop the disease by the age of 80.