Current status of research on the modifiable risk factors of dementia in India: A scoping review

Abstract

Dementia is a progressive condition influenced by multiple modifiable risk factors. While 14 of these risk factors have been identified, most of the evidence stems from High Income Countries leaving a crucial gap in how these factors operate within the diverse context of India. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct (2014–2024) to explore the association of cognitive impairment and dementia with at least one of the risk factors. Inclusion criteria encompassed empirical studies in India on the Indian population aged 18 and above while theoretical and review papers along with postmortem and animal samples were excluded. While the initial extraction of studies across the database identified 463 studies, only 15 that met the criteria were analyzed. Low education, depression, hypertension, and socioeconomic factors were commonly examined whereas hearing loss, high Low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol, and air pollution were significantly underrepresented. The cross-sectional design and data from large study databases such as the Longitudinal Aging Study of India (LASI) were largely used. Findings showed that some risk factors replicate global trends, but obesity differs in the Indian context. Research on the modifiable risk factors of dementia in India remains limited with contextual variations, socioeconomic disparities, and environmental reasons playing a crucial role. Future studies need to utilize longitudinal designs, develop cross-culturally relevant cognitive assessments, and include under-represented populations. Furthermore, multidisciplinary team collaborations and region-specific interventions hold scope for the prevention, early detection, and management of dementia.