Researchers Have Discovered 2 New Dementia Risk Factors. Here's What They Are.

"There are many sources of vision loss, of course, but it tends to be a lot more common in folks who have metabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure, such as poorly controlled diabetes, such as high cholesterol, which is the other risk factor [identified in the report],"

"When it comes to high LDL cholesterol (the so-called bad cholesterol), it can lead to the hardening of the blood vessels in the heart and brain, Fesharaki-Zadeh said, adding that high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes also affect the blood vessels."

"This can make it more difficult for oxygen to get to the brain, which over time can lead to neuron damage - "and dementia is essentially an end product of the neurons dying out, so ""

"A lot of these factors are very much interrelated."

Twelve modifiable factors—physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, air pollution, head injury, infrequent social contact, less education, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and hearing impairment—are linked to higher dementia risk. Two additional modifiable risk factors, vision impairment and high LDL cholesterol, were identified after reviewing multiple meta-analyses including 14 papers on vision loss and 27 on high cholesterol. Vision loss commonly co-occurs with metabolic risks such as high blood pressure, poorly controlled diabetes, and high cholesterol and reduces participation in cognitively stimulating activities. High LDL and vascular risk factors can harden vessels, impair brain oxygenation, cause neuron damage, and ultimately contribute to dementia.

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