AARP and Leading Research Organizations Announce Risk Factors of Dementia Research Findings

WASHINGTON — Today, AARP, the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative (AD Data Initiative), and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington announced the Dementia Risk Reduction Project, a new collaboration to study how factors – air pollution, alcohol use, depression, diabetes, high body mass index, hearing loss, hypertension, low education, physical inactivity, social isolation, smoking, and traumatic brain injury—vary by state and their correlation to dementia. The research will explore causal links between each factor and dementia, providing valuable information for both consumers and policymakers to address dementia risks in their communities.

Dementia affects over 55 million people globally, including almost 5 million in the U.S. The disease has profound impacts on families, loved ones, and caregivers. Despite ongoing research, much is still unknown about environmental, health, lifestyle, and other factors that may influence dementia risk.

Today, the Dementia Risk Reduction Project also released research findings of three of the twelve risk factors that the collaboration is studying:

• Smoking: Current smokers consuming five cigarettes per day have a 16% higher dementia risk than non-smokers.
• Air Pollution: Prolonged exposure to air pollution significantly raises dementia risk, emphasizing the need for policies to reduce pollution and safeguard brain health.
• Diabetes: Elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, a marker of diabetes, are linked to an increased risk of dementia, with an approximately 25% increase in risk even at prediabetes levels and a 50% increase in risk at the threshold for diabetes diagnosis. As blood glucose levels increase further, dementia risk continues to rise.

“By understanding and influencing dementia risk factors, we can disrupt dementia. We can use this information to promote healthier brains and empower people to lower their own risks, potentially delaying dementia onset and fostering healthy aging. This research aims to give older Americans more quality time with loved ones,” said Sarah Lock, AARP Senior Vice President for Policy and Executive Director of the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH). “Through this first-of-its kind research endeavor, AARP hopes to glean and share information on the relationship between potential risks and dementia and how we can reduce those risks for older Americans.”

“The goal is to improve health and health equity by identifying the risks that make a difference in dementia. Right now, the risk reduction picture for dementia is not very clear and so targeted action is difficult,” said Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray, Director of IHME. “From our previous research, we know dementia is the third largest cause of death for individuals 70 years of age and older in the United States; having a clear picture of the risk is essential to taking action.”

“This joint effort with IHME and AARP underscores the importance of collaboration as a cornerstone to better understanding dementia and finding new diagnostics, treatments, and cures,” said Niranjan Bose, Interim Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative. “We are delighted to be partnering with them to advance the findings of this report and continuing our work together to accelerate novel discoveries.”

This project will also attempt to connect the findings to AARP’s Six Pillars of Brain Health further described and addressed through the AARP Staying Sharp program. The Six Pillars include social engagement, brain stimulation, managing stress, conducting routine exercise, restorative sleep, and nutrition.

The resulting findings, including state-by-state comparisons, will be incorporated into the AD Data Initiative’s AD Workbench. This cloud-based platform can be securely accessed by researchers around the world to discover and request access to data related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, for use in their secondary research. Researchers can leverage this project’s work to identify and investigate other research questions, which may enable new dementia discoveries.

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About AARP:
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 years and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability, and personal fulfillment. Learn more about AARP at www.aarp.org.

About IHME:
An independent population health research organization based at the University of Washington School of Medicine, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) works with collaborators around the world to develop timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence that illuminates the state of health everywhere. In making our research available and approachable, we aim to inform health policy and practice in pursuit of our vision: all people living long lives in full health. Learn more about IHME at www.healthdata.org.

About The Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative:
The Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative is a coalition of leading academic, advocacy, government, industry, and philanthropy organizations that recognizes the need for dementia researchers to find easier ways to share unpublished data, analytical tools, and scientific findings. These partners are working together to accelerate progress towards new diagnostics, treatments, and cures in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Learn more about the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative at  www.alzheimersdata.org.

For further information: Ilse Zuniga, izuniga@aarp.org, 202-344-9132