Thanks to Ian Kremer for sending the link to this CDC report: Modifiable Risk Factors for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias Among Adults Aged ≥45 Years — United States, 2019. The summary and then some comments:
What is already known about this topic?
The 2021 National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease (National Plan) included a goal to reduce the risk for Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD).
What is added by this report?
Adults aged ≥45 years with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) were more likely to report four or more risk factors compared with those without SCD (34.3% versus 13.1%). Prevalence of SCD increased from 3.9% among adults with no risk factors to 25.0% among those with four or more risk factors.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Implementing evidence-based strategies that address modifiable risk factors can help achieve the National Plan’s goal to reduce risk for ADRD while promoting healthy aging.
At 81, I'm keenly aware of these risk factors. Here's how I'm dealing with them:
Aerobic activity: My Aussie shepherd Perri gets me out for 3 km or more of walking every day.
Cigarette smoking: I quit 40 years ago, after growing up in a household where everyone smoked.
Excessive alcohol use: After decades of enjoying beer, I quit in January. I'm on so many medications now that alcohol is more of a hazard than a solace.
Obesity: Not an issue. The stress of a compression fracture in December seems to have driven a dramatic weight loss, from 184 pounds to about 158 in a month. Osteoporosis is not a good way to lose weight. Now back up to about 165, and would like to add another 10 or so.
Hypertension: Taking medications for it since my stroke in 2012. Under control.
Diabetes: My GP says I'm right on the edge, so I'm taking a metformin with every meal.
Depression: Not an issue. Maybe I'm not responding to the pandemic, climate collapse, and the war in Ukraine as seriously as I should.
Hearing loss: This is a problem. I can't afford hearing aids at the moment, but hope to be able to before too much longer. It's not good to be sealed off from the auditory world.
So that's one risk factor instead of four or more. Not great, but not as bad as it might be. I'm also encouraged by the fact that neither my wife nor I have had COVID yet.
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