This 2012 policy brief gives an overview of risk factors for dementia.
First, an overview of conclusions from recent literature reviews on risk factors and prevention of dementia will be given followed by highlighting some of the generic difficulties and limitations in the field of dementia risk factor and prevention research. The second part of the paper presents an overview of the scientific evidence available on modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias and an overview of ongoing dementia prevention studies. The paper concludes with policy recommendations based on this overview as proposed by Alzheimer’s Disease International.
We subsequently produced the World Alzheimer Report 2014, with a much more comprehensive research review of risk factors.