Lancet Study Flags Cholesterol, Untreated Vision Loss As New Risk Factors For Dementia

A new study has revealed that high cholesterol and vision problems substantially impact dementia risk, and that keeping these factors in check could help prevent the disease.

The updated Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care (2024) identified two new risk factors for dementia – untreated vision loss and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/bad cholesterol.

The report also found that nearly half of cases of dementia worldwide may be attributed to such risk factors – suggesting that managing risk factors could delay or prevent dementia in many instances.

Alzheimer’s Society, who part-funded the study, which will be presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), the largest international conference on dementia research, in Philadelphia on Wednesday 31 July (4:15pm, ET; 9.15pm GMT), responds:

Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at Alzheimer’s Society said:
“Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and a global crisis affecting more than 55 million people, but it’s never too early or too late to reduce your dementia risk.

“This Lancet Commission study, part-funded by Alzheimer’s Society, identifies two new risk factors for developing dementia: untreated vision loss and high LDL cholesterol.

“It also suggests that nearly half of dementia cases across the world could be delayed or prevented.

“Some dementia risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and physical exercise, can be managed by changing your lifestyle, but many must be addressed on a societal level. Social isolation, education inequalities and air pollution are beyond individuals’ control and require public health interventions and joint action between Government and industry.

“If we can support people to reduce their dementia risk and address the societal change needed, this could mean potentially hundreds of thousands fewer people in the UK will go on to develop dementia.”