Dementia impacts 6.7 million Americans, and the risk of developing the devastating disease increases with age. But researchers still aren’t exactly sure what causes dementia, which makes it even more terrifying.
Now, new research suggests that your job, education, and even wealth can impact your dementia risk. (Although, of course, dementia is a complex disease, and no single factor will tip you into developing the condition.)
Still, it’s helpful to know all of your risks, as well as what you can do to lower your them. So, how can your lifestyle affect your chances of dementia? Here’s what to know.
What did the study find?
The study, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports in November, analyzed data from 8,442 adults aged 50 and up in England over the course of a decade. The researchers looked at people’s mental status over time, as well as information from their doctors, results from cognitive tests, and socioeconomic factors.
The researchers found that people who came from more socioeconomically advantaged backgrounds—especially those who went to college, had managerial or professional-level occupations, or were in the wealthiest third of the population—were less likely to move from a healthy cognitive state to mild cognitive impairment, or progress from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. This is compared to people who didn’t have a higher level of education, worked in manual or routine jobs, and were in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged third of the population.
Having a higher level of education was linked with a 43 percent lower chance of moving from a healthy cognitive state to mild impairment. Meanwhile, being in the wealthiest third of the population was linked with a 26 percent lower chance of shifting from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.
Can my income, job, or education predict dementia risk?
It’s hard to say for sure. Again, dementia is a complex disease—and this is just one study. However, other studies have also found a link between having a lower level of education and a higher risk of developing dementia.
“It is possible that education and intellectually demanding jobs provide more mental stimulation and help to build a stronger brain reserve to help protect individuals against cognitive impairment and dementia,” Aswathikutty Gireesh, lead study author and PhD candidate at University College London, said in a statement.
The findings “highlight the potential protective power of financial stability and access to resources in promoting brain health and cognitive resilience,” the researchers added, which underscores “the importance of social policies that support mental and cognitive wellbeing across all income levels.”
What are dementia risk factors?
A few things can raise your risk of developing dementia. According to the Mayo Clinic, those can include:
- Getting older
- Having a family history of dementia
- Having Down syndrome
- Being sedentary
- Having a poor diet
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Having uncontrolled cardiovascular disease
- Having untreated hearing or vision loss
- Having late-life depression
- Being exposed to air pollution
- Having a history of head trauma
- Having sleep apnea
- Having low levels of certain vitamins and nutrients
- Using certain sleep aids like diphenhydramine and oxybutynin
How can I lower my risk of dementia?
To lower your risk of developing dementia, the Mayo Clinic suggests taking these steps:
- Try to keep your mind active
- Be physically and socially active
- Avoid smoking
- Get enough vitamin D
- Manage your cardiovascular risk factors
- Treat any health conditions you have
- Eat a healthy diet
- Try to get good quality sleep
- Treat hearing loss
- Get regular eye exams and treat vision loss
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
