Medical News
Poverty may triple the risk for early dementia
Raising the socioeconomic status of the poor can help reduce incidence of the condition
Swathes of medical research have shown that health , or the lack of it , isn ’ t simply a matter of good genes and healthy lifestyles but is strongly related to social rank and financial means . A new study has offered additional evidence of this link in one of the most dreaded chronic diseases in our communities � dementia , a group of disabling conditions that slowly eats away at our memory and mental capacity .
�esearchers from the Huan�hong �niversity of Science and Technology in China analysed �� BioBank data related to more than ��� , ��� people aged between �� and �� and found that those from lower socio-economic backgrounds were more than three times as likely to develop early-onset dementia compared to more a�uent groups . The association with socioeconomic factors , however , was not as stark for late-onset dementia . �arly-onset dementia happens when people develop it before turning �� .
The analysis included data related to the participants ’ income , education , and employment but also looked at several factors well known for affecting health , such as smoking , alcohol intake , physical activity , and diet .
The researchers concluded that only a small percentage of the association with socioeconomic factors , less than �� percent , could be attributed to lifestyle differences , meaning that people in lower socio-economic groups are at a greater risk of developing early dementia even if they have a healthy lifestyle .
�Therefore , relying solely on promoting healthy lifestyles might not substantially reduce the socioeconomic ine�uity in early-onset dementia and late-onset dementia risk without considering other social determinants of health . �ur findings argue for social and fiscal policies that reduce socioeconomic ine�uity , � the authors wrote in the Lancet Healthy Longevity .
They added that those most at risk of early dementia were low-income people who had unhealthy lifestyles as they faced a ��� percent increased risk compared to high-income individuals who had healthy lifestyles .
Currently , more than �� million people in the world are affected by dementia , according to the �orld Health �rgani�ation ( �H� ), with roughly �� million new cases diagnosed every year . �hen the disease reaches advanced stages , people are often unable to take care of themselves because they can forget things and events , get lost when outside their homes , or have difficulty performing daily tasks . This e�plains why dementia is not only the seventh leading cause of death but also a ma�or cause of disability and dependency among the elderly worldwide .
�ecognising dementia as a public health priority , in ���� the �H� launched the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025 . This blueprint offers countries a range of guidelines for addressing the challenge of dementia , including how to increase awareness about it risks , create a dementia-inclusive society , and improve diagnosis and treatment . It also aims to improve support for dementia carers , often the patient ’ s family members , whose physical and mental health can be affected by the strain of care giving .
Currently , more than 55 million people in the world are affected by dementia
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