Being underweight (HR 1.90; 95% CI 1.06-3.39) or obese (HR 1.84; 95% CI 1.24-2.72) increased the risk of incident dementia, while formal education reduced the risk (HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.45-0.78).
Observational (n=3,336)
What sociodemographic and lifestyle factors are associated with incident dementia and cognitive decline in very elderly hypertensive patients?
In very elderly hypertensive patients, extremes of BMI and lack of formal education are associated with an increased risk of incident dementia.
Effect estimate: HR 1.90 (95% CI 1.06-3.39)
INTRODUCTION: previous studies have suggested that smoking, living alone and having a high body mass index may increase risk of developing dementia whereas a normal body mass index, having received education and moderate alcohol consumption may decrease risk. Dementia risk also increases with age and is thought to be higher in hypertensives. METHOD: we used data collected in the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET), and cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline and annually. Participants with a fall in MMSE to 30 (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.24-2.72), increased risk of incident dementia as did piracetam use (HR 2.72, 95% CI 1.60-4.63). Receiving formal education was associated with a reduced risk (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.45-0.78). There was no association with smoking, alcohol and gender. Similar results were found when examining mean annual change in the MMSE score. DISCUSSION: our results for BMI and education agree with those from other studies. The increased risk associated with piracetam may reflect awareness of memory problems before any diagnosis of dementia has been made. Trial participants may be healthier than the general population and further studies in the general population are required.
Peters et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Hypertension (n=3,336). Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors was evaluated on Incident dementia (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.06-3.39). Being underweight (HR 1.90; 95% CI 1.06-3.39) or obese (HR 1.84; 95% CI 1.24-2.72) increased the risk of incident dementia, while formal education reduced the risk (HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.45-0.78).