17 factors affect your risk for dementia, stroke and depression, study suggests
April 5 (CNN/GNA) – More than 55 million people worldwide have dementia, a number expected to nearly triple by 2050. Deaths from strokes may double by the same year, and 10% to 20% of adults experience depression later in life. While the numbers are striking, there’s a growing body of evidence showing that many of these cases may not be genetically fated, but rather could be delayed or prevented altogether by addressing health factors generally within our control. At least 17 factors contribute to dementia, stroke and late-life depression, according to an extensive review published Wednesday in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. Addressing the 17 factors can reduce people’s risk for all three conditions. Those factors are, in no order of importance: Blood pressure Body mass index Kidney disease Blood sugar Total cholesterol Alcohol use ...