Potentially Modifiable Dementia Risk Factors in Canada: An Analysis of Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging with a Multi-Country Comparison

Background

It has been suggested that up to 40% of dementia cases worldwide are associated with modifiable risk factors; however, these estimates are not known in Canada. Furthermore, sleep disturbances, an emerging factor, has not been incorporated into the life-course model of dementia prevention.

Objective

To estimate the population impact of 12 modifiable risk factors in Canadian adults including sleep disturbances, by sex and age groups, and to compare with other countries.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging baseline data.

Setting

Community.

Participants

30,097 adults aged 45 years and older.

Measuremments

Prevalence and Population Attributable

Fractions (PAFs) associated with less education, hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, hypertension, excessive alcohol, obesity, smoking, depression, social isolation, physical inactivity, diabetes, and sleep disturbances

Results

The risk factors with the largest PAF were later life physical inactivity (10.2%; 95% CI, 6.8% to 13%), midlife hearing loss (6.5%; 3.7% to 9.3%), midlife obesity (6.4%; 4.1% to 7.7%), and midlife hypertension (6.2%; 2.7% to 9.3%). The PAF of later life sleep disturbances was 3.0% (95% CI, 1.8% to 3.8%). The 12 risk factors accounted for 51.9% (32.2% to 68.0%) of dementia among men and 52.4% (32.5% to 68.7%) among women. Overall, the combined PAF of all risk factors was 49.2% (31.1% to 64.9%), and it increased with age.

Conclusion

Nearly up to 50% of dementia cases in Canada are attributable to 12 modifiable risk factors across the lifespan. Canadian risk reduction strategies should prioritize targeting physical inactivity, hearing loss, obesity, and hypertension.