Blacks Face Tripling Dementia Risk by 2060 – Here’s What You Can Do Now

The risk of developing dementia after age 55 is more than 42 percent among Americans, according to a study published January 13 in the journal Nature Medicine. This staggering figure is over twice the risk reported in earlier studies. “Our study results forecast a dramatic rise in the burden from dementia in the United States over the coming decades, with one in two Americans expected to experience cognitive difficulties after age 55,” said Dr. Josef Coresh, founding director of the Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Langone Health, in a news release. This elevated risk translates to an estimated half-million new cases this year and is projected to rise to one million new cases annually by 2060. Researchers attribute this increase to the aging U.S. population, combined with greater awareness of factors linked to dementia, such as genetics, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, and mental health issues. Key Findings From the Study The study analyzed data from a long-term project tracking the heart and brain health of nearly 16,000 participants over several decades. Between 1987 and 2020, over 3,200 participants were diagnosed with dementia. Key findings include: The overall lifetime dementia risk is 42 percent, broken...