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A recent study published in Nature Medicine predicts that the number of new dementia cases in the United States could double by 2060, reaching one million annually. This increase is largely attributed to the growing population of older Americans, as people are living longer than previous generations.
The study highlights that the risk of developing dementia after age 55 is 42 percent, significantly higher than earlier estimates.
The research, conducted by a team from NYU Langone Health and other institutions, used data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS), which has tracked nearly 16,000 participants since 1987. The study found that the risk of dementia is higher among Black Americans and those with the APOE4 gene variant, which is linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Josef Coresh, the study's senior investigator, emphasized the need for health policies to address the impending rise in dementia cases. He suggested that strategies to prevent heart disease, such as controlling blood pressure and diabetes, could also help reduce cognitive decline. Additionally, Coresh recommended greater monitoring and testing for hearing loss, which is associated with increased dementia risk.