Authors: Geeske Peeters, Arianna Almirall‐Sanchez, Jorge J Llibre‐Guerra, Brian Lawlor, Kenny Rose Anne, Kristine Yaffe, Juan Llibre
Published: 2020-12-07
DOI: 10.1002/alz.038314
Source: Full article
AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about risk factors of dementia in Latin American countries. Findings from western countries cannot be readily translated to Latin American countries. To inform risk stratification and targeted preventive strategies, we aimed to identify risk factors of incident dementia in Cuban older adults and explores how these change with age.MethodData were from 1846 participants in the Cuban cohort of the 10/66 Dementia Research Group. Participants completed questionnaires, health examination and cognitive tests at baseline (2003‐06) and on average 4.5 years later (2007‐10). Univariable and multivariable associations between risk factors at baseline and incident dementia at follow‐up were examined using logistic regression for the total sample and for younger (65‐74 yrs) and older (75+ yrs) subgroups.Result9.2% of participants developed dementia. In the total sample, significant univariable associations with dementia were found for age, education, marital status, obesity, stroke, depression, physical activity, fish consumption and family history. In the multivariable model, associations with age (≥75 vs. 65‐74 yrs: OR=2.65, 95%CI=1.86‐3.76), marital status (widowed/divorced/separated vs. married/cohabiting: OR=1.65, 95%CI=1.12‐2.43), physical activity (inactive vs. highly active: OR=2.63, 95%CI=1.58‐4.37), and fish consumption (regular vs. rarely: OR=1.74, 95%CI=1.04‐2.91) remained statistically significant. In the younger age group, significant multivariable associations were found for stroke (OR=2.90, 95%CI=1.22‐7.90), ischaemic heart problems (OR=0.22, 95%CI=0.05‐0.95), depression (OR=1.87, 95%CI=1.05‐3.31), and physical activity (inactive vs. highly active: OR=3.09, 95%CI=1.26‐7.58). In the older age group, significant multivariable associations were found for smoking status (current vs. never/ex‐smoker: OR=2.19, 95%CI=1.17‐4.11), physical activity (inactive vs. highly active: OR=2.05, 95%CI=1.07‐3.92) and fish consumption (regular vs. rarely: OR=2.35, 95%CI=1.24‐4.45).ConclusionThis is the first study in Cuba and one of few in Latin America to identify risk factors for incident dementia. The risk profiles were dominated by chronic conditions in 65‐74 year olds and by lifestyle factors in 75+ year olds. The important role for modifiable risk factors holds promise for future preventive strategies.