Sixteen Diseases Linked to Increased Dementia Risk, Major Study Finds

A recent study has identified sixteen diseases that may significantly increase the risk of developing dementia, a growing concern as nearly one million individuals in the UK currently live with some form of the condition. The research, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, sheds light on how illnesses unrelated to the brain could be linked to dementia risk, providing valuable insights for prevention strategies.

Dementia encompasses a range of neurological and neurodegenerative conditions, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common form. As the number of people affected by dementia is expected to rise in the coming years, global researchers are focusing on both treatment advancements and risk reduction strategies.

The researchers from the Sun Yat-sen Clinical Research Cultivating Program in China analyzed data from the UK Biobank alongside prevalence statistics from the Global Burden of Disease Study, covering the period from 1990 to 2021. Their findings suggest that these sixteen diseases could account for approximately one-third of dementia cases worldwide. Given that the World Health Organization estimated around 57 million people were living with dementia in 2021, this could mean that nearly 19 million cases might be linked to the identified conditions.

The systematic review and Bayesian meta-analyses conducted by the researchers included a comprehensive search of 202 articles from PubMed until September 6, 2024. Their analysis revealed that the peripheral diseases associated with increased dementia risk remain underexplored at the population level. The researchers stated, “Growing evidence suggests that peripheral diseases serve as risk factors for dementia, but the population-level burden of dementia associated with various peripheral diseases has remained unknown.”

The timing of this research aligns with ongoing efforts to investigate potential treatments for dementia. A global study is currently examining 100 medications that could benefit dementia sufferers, including drugs originally developed for other health conditions.

Sheona Scales, director of Alzheimer’s Research UK, commented on the potential implications of the findings, noting, “Around a third of drugs in the pipeline are repurposed drugs and a really promising example of this is the drug semaglutide, which is currently being trialed in people with mild cognitive impairment.” She emphasized the significance of the current moment in dementia research, stating, “I think it’s fair to say today that we’re at a tipping point in dementia research as we understand more and more about the diseases that drive dementia.”

Scales highlighted that these insights open up opportunities to slow and potentially halt the progression of dementia. The announcement of the research findings underscores the collaborative efforts to translate scientific understanding into practical treatments, offering hope for those affected by this condition.