Global dementia risk factors study

A major study led by the University of Southern California, with colleagues at Brown University and Johns Hopkins University, analyzed data from over 214,000 older adults across 14 countries and regions. The research, presented at the Alzheimer s Association 2026 in London and published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, examined 12 modifiable dementia risk factors. It found that the prevalence of these risk factors varies dramatically between countries, with low education affecting 85.6% of older adults in China versus 12.0% in the United States, and high BMI affecting 44.9% of Americans versus 13.3% in India. Despite these differences, certain risk factors tend to cluster together similarly worldwide, such as cardiovascular risks and risky behaviors. The study suggests that dementia prevention strategies should be tailored to local populations rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. The research was supported by the United States — National Institutes of Health.