Day guest Helga, who has dementia, during a sport lesson in the geriatric day care facility of the German Red Cross (DRK, or Deutsches Rotes Kreuz) at Villa Albrecht on March 18, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo : Getty Images/ Carsten Koall)
A new study has found that the rate of dementia among the Americans is incredibly declining. The researchers think that higher education and better treatment of certain diseases have been a great help.
The dementia rate among 21,057 Americans fell considerably from 11.6 percent to 8.8 percent from 2000 to 2012. A drop of 24 percent over 12 years was noted among Americans 65 years and older.
"Our study, along with prior studies, supports the notion that "cognitive reserve" resulting from early-life and lifelong education and cognitive stimulation," Dr. Kenneth Langa of the University of Michigan said about the study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. " It may be a potent strategy for the primary prevention of dementia in both high- and low-income countries around the world.
The result of the study was supported by the same findings in the United Kingdom and Europe. The researchers believe that more years spent studying and better treatment for diseases, including cardiovascular and diabetes are associated with lower risk for dementia.
The US population is aging, while more people are overweight, and have high blood pressure and diabetes. However, the dementia rate decreased. The Alzheimer's Association warned that the findings do not mean that less Americans have dementia.
Prevalence rate means the number of people over the number of total population. Prevalence number is the total number of people with the disease. More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, ALZ.Org reported.
Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2016, dementia and Alzheimer's disease will cost about $236 billion. Despite the fall in dementia rate, the researchers noted that the number of Americans with Alzheimer's and dementia will continue to increase.
The new study is still a good news in the medical industry. There is still no cure for dementia, but a research like this can give hope to many people who are diagnosed with the disease.
Dementia remains one of the leading causes of death in England and Wales. Alzheimer's Research UK chief executive Hilary Evans praised the latest dementia study as a sign of optimism, but dementia still serves as the "greatest medical challenge."
Check out some updates about dementia:
