Brain changes, weight loss, and even infection history could help pinpoint who might be at risk
Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias are characterized by progressive cognitive decline, and with an aging population, the number of older Americans with dementia is expected to rise dramatically in coming years. But dementia is not an inevitable part of aging.
New studies funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) identify early warning signs of cognitive decline and key factors that contribute to dementia risk. Early diagnosis allows access to treatments that can delay the onset or slow the development of dementia, improving the health and well-being of dementia patients and their caregivers and reducing health care costs.
Paola Scommegna, Mark Mather, Dan Vahaba (January 2025). New Studies Identify Early Warning Signs of Dementia. Population Reference Bureau.
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Aaron Reuben et al., “Dementia, Dementia’s Risk Factors and Premorbid Brain Structure Are Concentrated in Disadvantaged Areas: National Register and Birth-Cohort Geographic Analyses,” Alzheimer’s & Dementia 20, no. 5 (2024): 3167–78.
Brian Downer et al., “Dual-Language Use and Cognitive Function Among Mexican Americans Aged 65 and Older,” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 99, no. 3 (2024): 1105–15.