North -American States with the highest dementia rates revealed: did yours make the list?

The house is where the heart is, but it can also be where your memory moves away.

A new study that found that dementia rates vary dramatically through the United States in ways that cannot be explained by traditional risk factors.

The research suggests that where you live, it could play an important role in whether you develop the disease of memory later in life, opening new doors for targeted prevention efforts.

Dementia is a growing concern for public health that affects more than 6 million Americans and causes more than 100,000 deaths each year, according to national health institutes.

In the future, researchers predict that new dementia cases in the United States will double over the next 40 years, increasing from approximately 514,000 by 2020 to almost 1 million by 2060.

This means that the north -Americans over 55 are at risk of diagnosing 42% of life. But can your zip code keep the key to reducing these odds?

Dementia hot spots

Researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF) analyzed health data of more than 1.2 million 65 -year -old veterans, courtesy of the veteran health administration.

For an average of 12 years, the team tracked who developed the disease, and then compared the numbers by location.

The average Atlantic had the lowest dementia rate, with only 11.2 cases per 1,000 people a year. But other parts of the country recorded significantly higher risks:

• The Southeast-Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi had a 25% larger dementia diagnostic rate compared to the Middle Atlantic.
• The North Mountains -West and Rockies were 23% higher.
• The south increased by 18%.
• The south -west exceeded a 13% higher rate.
• The regions of the South Atlantic and the Midwest were approximately 12% higher.
• The north -East and the Great Lakes had an increase of 7%.

Above all, regional differences could not be explained when researchers were taken into account in common risk factors such as age, race, heart disease or rural life versus urban life.

The study has some limitations. The authors only looked at the veterans, who are mostly masculine and may not reflect the general population. This group also faces unique risks, such as traumatic brain injuries and PSDs, which could affect their odds.

However, the results were clear: where you live is important.

“The study emphasizes the need to understand regional differences in dementia and the importance of specific prevention and intervention efforts of the region,” said Dr. Kristine Yaffe, a senior author of the study and director of the UCSF’s population of health center, in a statement.

Then researchers aim to discover what drives these geographical lagoons.

“The quality of education, the conditions of early life and environmental exhibitions can be key factors,” said Dr. Christina Drànica, the first author of the study and a postdoctoral scholar of the UCSF.

Fight against oblivion

While the UCSF excavates why some places have higher dementia rates, you don’t have to wait to protect your brain.

Studies suggest that almost 45% of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed, with experts explaining five simple steps you can do right now to reduce the risk.

First, move. Regular physical activity not only keeps your body in shape, but also stands in your mind.

Point 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, as well as muscle reinforcement sessions twice weekly.

Beyond exercise, managing your health is crucial. Preventing or controlling diabetes is key because too many sugar in the blood can damage vital organs, including the brain.

Along these lines, maintaining blood pressure under control is equally important. High blood pressure harms blood vessels and cuts blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of stroke and memory loss.

Your audition also plays a role. Making measures to prevent hearing loss or treatment if you already have it, it is important because hearing loss can make the brain work more, draining the resources needed for memory and thought.

Finally try to limit or avoid drinking and smoking. Excessive alcohol can cause high blood pressure and brain injury, while smoking increases the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.