PR84961

CHICAGO, July 30, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Risk factors for Alzheimer's dementia may be apparent as early as our teens and

20s, according to new research reported at the Alzheimer's Association

International Conference(R) (AAIC(R)) (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2871606-1&h=4022512062&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alz.org%2Faaic&a=Alzheimer%27s+Association+International+Conference ) 2020.

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These risk factors, many of which are disproportionately apparent in African

Americans, include heart health factors - such as high blood pressure, high

cholesterol and diabetes - and social factors like education quality. According

to the Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures

(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2871606-1&h=1696413537&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alz.org%2Falzheimers-dementia%2Ffacts-figures&a=Facts+and+Figures ) report, older African Americans are about twice as

likely to have Alzheimer's or other dementias as older whites.

"By identifying, verifying, and acting to counter those Alzheimer's risk

factors that we can change, we may reduce new cases and eventually the total

number of people with Alzheimer's and other dementia," said Maria C. Carrillo,

Ph.D., Alzheimer's Association chief science officer. "Research like this is

important in addressing health inequities and providing resources that could

make a positive impact on a person's life."

"These new reports from AAIC 2020 show that it's never too early, or too late,

to take action to protect your memory and thinking abilities," Carrillo said.

The Alzheimer's Association is leading the U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health

Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER) (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2871606-1&h=2477404482&u=https%3A%2F%2Falz.org%2Fus-pointer%2Foverview.asp&a=U.S.+POINTER ), a two-year clinical trial to evaluate

whether lifestyle interventions that simultaneously target many risk factors

protect cognitive function in older adults who are at increased risk for cognitive decline.

U.S. POINTER is the first such study to be conducted in a large, diverse group of Americans

across the United States.

African American Youth At Higher Risk of Dementia

In a population of more than 714 African Americans in the Study of Healthy

Aging in African Americans (STAR), Kristen George, Ph.D., MPH, of the

University of California, Davis, and colleagues found that high blood pressure

and diabetes, or a combination of multiple heart health-related factors, are

common in adolescence and are associated with worse late-life cognition. Study

participants were adolescents (n=165; ages 12-20), young adults (n=439; ages

21-34) and adults (n=110; ages 35-56). Mean age at cognitive assessment was 68.

Cognition was measured using in-person tests of memory and executive function.

The researchers found that, in this study population, having diabetes, high

blood pressure, or two or more heart health risk factors in adolescence, young

adulthood, or mid-life was associated with statistically significantly worse

late-life cognition. These differences persisted after accounting for age,

gender, years since risk factors were measured, and education.

Before this report, little was known about whether cardiovascular disease (CVD)

risk factors developed prior to mid-life were associated with late-life

cognition. This is an important question because African Americans have a

higher risk of CVD risk factors compared to other racial/ethnic groups from

adolescence through adulthood.

According to the researchers, these findings suggest that CVD risk factors as

early as adolescence influence late-life brain health in African Americans.

Efforts to promote heart and brain healthy lifestyles must not only include

middle-aged adults, but also younger adults and adolescents who may be

especially susceptible to the negative impact of poor vascular health on the brain.

Early Adult BMI Associated With Late Life Dementia Risk

In what the authors say is the first study to report on the issue, higher early

adulthood (age 20-49) body mass index (BMI) was associated with higher

late-life dementia risk.

Relatively little is known about the role of early life BMI on the risk of

Alzheimer and other dementias. The scientists studied a total of 5,104 older

adults from two studies, including 2,909 from the Cardiovascular Health Study

(CHS) and 2,195 from the Health, Aging and Body Composition study (Health ABC).

Of the total sample, 18% were Black and 56% were women. Using pooled data from

four established cohorts spanning the adult life course, including the two

cohorts under the study, the scientists estimated BMI beginning at age 20 for

all older adults of CHS and Health ABC.

  -- For women, dementia risk increased with higher early adulthood BMI.

     Compared to women with normal BMI in early adulthood, dementia risk was

     1.8 times higher among those who were overweight, and 2.5 times higher

     among those who were obese. Analyses were adjusted for midlife and late

     life BMI.

     -- They found no association between midlife BMI and dementia risk among

        women.

  -- For men, dementia risk was 2.5 times higher among those who were obese in

     early adulthood, 1.5 times higher among those who were overweight in mid

     life and 2.0 times higher among those who were obese in mid-life, in

     models also adjusted for late life BMI.

  -- For both women and men, dementia risk decreased with higher late life BMI.

Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri, Ph.D. of Columbia University and colleagues found that

high BMI in adulthood is a risk factor for dementia in late life. The researchers

suggest that efforts aimed at reducing dementia risk may need to

begin earlier in life with a focus on obesity prevention and treatment.  

Quality of Early-Life Education Influences Dementia Risk

In a diverse group of more than 2,400 people followed up to 21 years, higher

quality early-life education was associated with better language and memory

performance, and lower risk of late-life dementia. Results were somewhat

different between men and women, and between Blacks and Whites in the study.

The study included 2,446 Black and White men and women, age 65 and older,

enrolled in the Washington Heights/Inwood Columbia Aging Project who attended

elementary school in the United States. A school quality variable based on

historical measures included: mandatory school enrollment age, minimum dropout

age, school term length, student-teacher ratio, and student attendance.

People who attended school in states with lower quality education had more

rapid decline in memory and language as an older adult. Black women and men and

White women who attended schools in states with higher quality education were

less likely to develop dementia. According to the scientists, the results were

explained, in part, because people who attend higher quality schools end up

getting more years of school.

Justina Avila-Rieger, PhD, a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia

University Irving Medical Center and colleagues say the findings provide

evidence that later life dementia risk and cognitive function is influenced by

early-life state educational policies.

About the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC)

The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world's

largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer's

and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer's Association's research

program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia

and fostering a vital, collegial research community.

  -- AAIC 2020 home page: www.alz.org/aaic/  

  -- AAIC 2020 newsroom: www.alz.org/aaic/pressroom.asp  

  -- AAIC 2020 hashtag: #AAIC20

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization

dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the

way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia - by accelerating global

research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality

care and support. Visit http://alz.org or call + 1 800.272.3900.

  -- Kristen George, PhD, MPH, et al. Cardiovascular risk factors in

     adolescence and adulthood and late-life cognition: Study of healthy aging

     in African Americans (STAR). (Funder(s): U.S. National Institute on

     Aging)

  -- Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri, PhD, et al. Association of early life BMI with

     dementia risk: Findings from a pooled cohort analysis. (Funder(s): U.S.

     National Institute on Aging)

  -- Justina Avila-Rieger, et al. Relationship between state-level

     administrative school quality data, years of education, cognitive decline,

     and dementia risk. (Funder(s): U.S. National Institute on Aging)

SOURCE:  Alzheimer’s Association

CONTACT: Alzheimer's Association Media Line

         +1-312-335-4078

         media@alz.org;

         AAIC 2020 Press Office

         aaicmedia@alz.org