Oxford Study Reveals 11 Key Risk Factors for Dementia in Men, Including a New Predictive Tool

Men are at a higher risk of developing dementia, according to a new study conducted by Oxford University. The research has identified 11 key risk factors for the disease and has developed a predictive tool that can assess an individual’s chances of developing dementia within 14 years. By analyzing data from over 220,000 people aged 50 to 73, the researchers created the UK Biobank Dementia Risk Score (UKBDRS). The study challenges previous findings that women are more susceptible to dementia, as being male emerged as a prominent risk factor. The researchers suggest that this could be due to older men being more likely to suffer from other health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, resulting in premature death and fewer cases of dementia. The study also found that factors such as lower education levels, lower income, and living alone increase the risk of dementia. Additionally, lifestyle and health conditions such as diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure can significantly raise the chances of developing the disease. The new risk scoring tool developed by the researchers outperformed three commonly used dementia risk scores. It was found that nearly 2% of people in the UK Biobank study developed dementia within 14 years. The study also identified the APOE gene, which is a known risk factor for dementia, and incorporated it into the development of an even more accurate risk tool called UKBDRS-APOE. The researchers propose that further improvements to the accuracy of this risk score could be made by including cognitive tests, brain scans, and blood tests for indicators of neurodegeneration. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, suggests that the UKBDRS could be used as an initial screening tool to identify high-risk individuals who would benefit from more detailed assessments.