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 various factors—such as 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. This research will explore causal links between each factor and dementia, providing valuable information for consumers and policymakers to address dementia risks in their communities.

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

Today, the Dementia Risk Reduction Project also released findings on three of the twelve risk factors being studied:

• 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, highlighting the need for policies aimed at reducing pollution to safeguard brain health.
• Diabetes: Elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, a marker of diabetes, are linked to an increased risk of dementia. Even at prediabetes levels, the risk increases by approximately 25%, and by 50% at the threshold for diabetes diagnosis. As blood glucose levels rise further, dementia risk continues to escalate.

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

“The goal is to improve health and health equity by identifying the risks that significantly impact dementia. Currently, the risk reduction landscape for dementia is unclear, making targeted action challenging,” emphasized Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray, Director of IHME. “From our previous research, we know dementia is the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 70 and older in the United States; having a clear understanding of the risks is essential for taking action.”

“This collaboration with IHME and AARP underscores the importance of teamwork as a cornerstone for better understanding dementia and discovering new diagnostics, treatments, and cures,” remarked Niranjan Bose, Interim Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative. “We are excited to partner with them to advance the findings of this report and continue our work together to accelerate novel discoveries.”

This project will also connect findings to AARP’s Six Pillars of Brain Health, which include social engagement, brain stimulation, stress management, 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 allows researchers worldwide to securely access data related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia for secondary research. Researchers can leverage this project’s findings to identify and investigate additional research questions, potentially leading to new discoveries in dementia.

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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) collaborates globally to develop timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence that illuminates the state of health everywhere. Our goal is 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.

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 various factors—such as 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. This research will explore causal links between each factor and dementia, providing valuable information for consumers and policymakers to address dementia risks in their communities.

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

Today, the Dementia Risk Reduction Project also released findings on three of the twelve risk factors being studied:

• 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, highlighting the need for policies aimed at reducing pollution to safeguard brain health.
• Diabetes: Elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, a marker of diabetes, are linked to an increased risk of dementia. Even at prediabetes levels, the risk increases by approximately 25%, and by 50% at the threshold for diabetes diagnosis. As blood glucose levels rise further, dementia risk continues to escalate.

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

“The goal is to improve health and health equity by identifying the risks that significantly impact dementia. Currently, the risk reduction landscape for dementia is unclear, making targeted action challenging,” emphasized Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray, Director of IHME. “From our previous research, we know dementia is the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 70 and older in the United States; having a clear understanding of the risks is essential for taking action.”

“This collaboration with IHME and AARP underscores the importance of teamwork as a cornerstone for better understanding dementia and discovering new diagnostics, treatments, and cures,” remarked Niranjan Bose, Interim Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative. “We are excited to partner with them to advance the findings of this report and continue our work together to accelerate novel discoveries.”

This project will also connect findings to AARP’s Six Pillars of Brain Health, which include social engagement, brain stimulation, stress management, 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 allows researchers worldwide to securely access data related to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia for secondary research. Researchers can leverage this project’s findings to identify and investigate additional research questions, potentially leading to new discoveries in dementia.

###

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) collaborates globally to develop timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence that illuminates the state of health everywhere. Our goal is 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.