Dementia continues to be one of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
According to the World Health Organization, tens of millions are living with the condition, with women being disproportionately affected.
The disease is commonly linked with aging, and for many, it seems like an inevitable part of growing older.
But new research suggests a very different reality for the younger elderly.
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Cross-continental data points to a clear pattern
Australian researchers analyzed data from more than 60,000 people aged 70 and older across the US, England, and Europe.
Using advanced algorithms that evaluated daily function and cognitive performance, they estimated each person’s likelihood of having dementia.
And the results were surprising. At the same age, people from more recent generations were significantly less likely to show signs of dementia than those born decades earlier.
This pattern was especially clear among women in Europe and the UK.
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In one striking example, over 25 % of Americans aged 81–85 born between 1890 and 1913 had dementia.
For those born just a few decades later, between 1939 and 1943, the figure dropped to just over 15 %.
Lifestyle may be the key
While the study didn’t directly investigate causes, experts point to several likely contributors.
Improved education, especially for women, appears to play a major role.
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Added to that are healthier lifestyles, smoking bans, and advances in treatment for diseases like heart disease and diabetes - all known dementia risk factors.
However, the researchers caution that this trend may not continue unless governments and societies remain committed to prevention.
Rising inequality, economic instability, and health policy shifts could still reverse the gains.
Still, this study offers a rare dose of optimism: dementia is not a fixed destiny, and the choices we make as societies may already be making a difference.
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This article is based on information from The Guardian.