Dementia Risk is Modifiable and In Your Control

With over 55 million people globally suffering from dementia and nearly 7 million Americans over 65 living with Alzheimer’s, the necessity for early detection is critical. These conditions are often only diagnosed after significant progression, making effective intervention difficult.

We now know that up to 40% of the risk of dementia is modifiable and in your control. A large review and meta-analyses published in Lancet (Livingston et al., Lancet Commissions 2020) identified a 12 risk factor model of dementia prevention. Together the 12 modifiable risk factors account for 40% of dementia risk. Importantly, these modifiable risk factors are in your control. They include physical inactivity, pre-diabetes and diabetes, high blood pressure, social isolation, excessive alcohol use, and many others. The authors conclude that it is never too early and never too late in your life for dementia prevention.

The key is to identify dementia risk early in life, long before disease onset. By doing so, we can identify which modifiable risk factors are the most important for you personally and, therefore, which interventions will be the most impactful. And even if you have elevated genetic risk, your overall risk can still be reduced – in other words, you can’t change your genes, but you can absolutely change your risk. Again the key is pre-symptomatic assessment of risk, when it can be modified.

At Human Longevity, we are committed to leading the charge for dementia precision prevention. Our precision medicine approach integrates genomics, advanced imaging, and blood testing to help detect pre-symptomatic risk of dementia, potentially years before symptom onset. For example, by meticulously tracking neuroimaging biomarker changes over the years, we provide our clients with a significant advantage in identifying and intervening dementia early on.

Our approach not only aligns with the latest scientific research but also offers a proactive strategy in early intervention and potentially mitigating the impact of dementia. Join us in transforming the future of healthcare, where early detection and precision medicine pave the way for a healthier tomorrow.

In health,

Longevity Care Team at Human Longevity