Study: Older Americans with dementia to double by 2060
New research indicates a higher risk of older Americans developing dementia, especially as many are living longer, according to a study conducted by Nature Medicine.
While previous studies have estimated the risk of developing dementia to be about 14 percent for men and 23 percent for women, this new study estimates the risk to be significantly higher, around 42 percent for both men and women, noted NBC News.
To evaluate the lifetime risk of dementia, the study evaluated more than 15,000 Americans, ages 55 to 95 years old, who were tracked for more than two decades.
Study findings include:
- The average risk of dementia for a 55-year-old during their lifetime is 42 percent; however, the risk was not the same at every age.
- Between ages 55 and 75, the average risk of developing dementia is four percent.
- By age 85, the risk level is about 20 percent.
- By age 95, the risk of developing dementia reaches 42 percent.
- Black Americans and women had the greatest risk.
- By age 75, Black Americans have a seven percent risk, which is nearly double the average risk.
- By age 85, the risk increased to 28 percent and rises to 42 percent by age 95.
- For women, by age 75, the risk is three percent. By age 85, it rises to 21 percent and up to 48 percent by age 95.
HHS shares plans to use AI to improve Americans’ health and wellbeing
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released its AI Strategic Plan, which includes a framework and roadmap to use artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, human services, and public health.
The plan outlines four ways HHS will strive to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, accessibility, equitability, and outcomes in health and human services with responsible use of AI. The four methods include:
- Catalyze health AI innovation and adoption to discover new ways to use AI to improve people’s lives.
- Promote trustworthy AI development and ethical and responsible use to prevent potential harm.
- Democratize AI technologies and resources to promote equitable access for everyone.
- Cultivate AI-empowered workforces and organizational cultures to allow staff to make the best use of AI.
“At HHS, we are optimistic about the transformational potential of AI,” said Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm in a statement. “These technologies hold unparalleled ability to drive innovation through accelerating scientific breakthroughs, improving medical product safety and effectiveness, improving health outcomes through care delivery, increasing access to human services, and optimizing public health. However, our optimism is tempered with a deep sense of responsibility. We need to ensure that Americans are safeguarded from risks. Deployment and adoption of AI should benefit the American people, and we must hold stakeholders across the ecosystem accountable to achieve this goal.”
Study links SDoH to cognitive performance
SDoH influence an individual’s cognitive performance, according to a new study published by BMC Geriatrics, which found higher SDoH scores to be associated with lower cognitive performance.
The study used data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine 2,819 older adults’, aged 60 and older from 2011 to 2014, self-reported domains of SDoH, including employment, family income-to-poverty ratio, food security, education level, health insurance coverage, type of health insurance, home ownership, and marital status. The adults’ cognitive performance was evaluated based on their processing speed, executive function, and memory.
The researchers said they found a substantial negative association between the accumulation of unfavorable SDoH factors and cognitive performance. “Actively investigating the relationship between these factors may be a crucial strategy for delaying dementia onset,” they wrote.
The research team underscored the need for further investigation into adverse SDoH factors to slow the progression of cognitive impairment.