Differences in the prevalence and patterns of dementia risk factors across 14 countries and regions: a harmonised cross-national analysis.
Dementia risk factors vary widely across countries, but consistent patterns suggest tailored prevention programs combining universal strategies with locally relevant approaches can work everywhere.
Using harmonized data from 11 nationally representative aging studies across 14 diverse countries, this Lancet Healthy Longevity study characterizes the prevalence and patterns of 12 modifiable dementia risk factors in 214,251 adults aged >=50 years, revealing substantial cross-national heterogeneity requiring context-specific prevention approaches. Despite variation in individual risk factors, consistent co-occurrence patterns and broadly similar cardiovascular, behavioral, and social/sensory risk clusters across all settings support the design of multidomain interventions with both universal and locally tailored components.
What the study was
- Study design
- harmonised cross-sectional analysis
- Population
- Adults aged >=50 from 14 countries and regions (11 nationally representative aging studies)
- Sample size
- 214251
- Category
- Public Health
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- Lancet Healthy Longev
Why it surfaced
Lancet Healthy Longevity publication with 214,251 participants from 14 countries; provides foundational data for global dementia prevention frameworks; directly relevant to aging and longevity watchlist; informs both context-specific and universal prevention strategies; funded by NIH.
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