Key points from article :
A new international study suggests that people born more recently are less likely to develop dementia at the same age as earlier generations. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research analysed data from over 62,000 adults aged 70 and above across the U.S., U.K., and parts of Europe. Researchers found that at any given age, dementia rates were lower in more recent birth cohorts. For instance, in the U.S., 25.1% of people aged 81–85 born between 1890–1913 had dementia, compared to just 15.5% of those born between 1939–1943.
The decline in dementia risk was more pronounced in women, particularly in Europe and England. Researchers suggest this could be partly due to greater access to education for women in the mid-20th century. Economic shifts, measured via GDP, didn’t significantly affect the results, suggesting other social and health improvements may play a bigger role.
Experts praised the study’s methods, though they noted it relied on algorithmic assessments rather than clinical diagnoses. They also cautioned against assuming the trend will continue, especially as major health improvements—like reduced smoking and better cardiovascular care—may have already plateaued. Nonetheless, the findings offer hope that public health interventions can reduce dementia risk.
Despite the optimistic trend, dementia remains a growing concern due to aging populations and persistent inequalities related to gender, education, and geography. Advocates are calling for stronger public health strategies to address preventable risk factors, such as smoking, hearing loss, and air pollution, to continue lowering dementia rates in the future.
