Dementia caregivers have modifiable risk factors increasing their own risk

Six in 10 dementia caregivers report having at least one modifiable risk factor that could increase their own chances of developing dementia, according to a report issued June 12 by the Alzheimer’s Association.

The analysis was conducted by the Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction at the Alzheimer’s Association and the Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Caregiving at the University of Minnesota. The analysis included data from the 2021-2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (47 states). The analysis examined six modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline: obesity, diabetes, poor sleep (less than six hours sleep), smoking, hypertension, and physical inactivity.

The results showed nearly one in four dementia caregivers (24.3%) reported having multiple risk factors for cognitive decline. Dementia caregivers were more likely than the general population to report obesity (caregivers were 8% more likely), diabetes (12% more likely), poor sleep (21% more likely), smoking (30% more likely), and hypertension (27% more likely). In contrast, physical inactivity was less likely among dementia caregivers (9% less likely). Further, younger dementia caregivers (younger than 45 years) were particularly vulnerable to having modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline, with younger dementia caregivers more likely to have multiple risk factors (21.6 versus 15.5% in the general population).

“This analysis underscores the vulnerability of dementia caregivers,” Matthew Baumgart, senior vice president for health policy at the Alzheimer’s Association, said in a statement. “Dementia caregivers are often so busy caring for a family member or friend that they overlook their own health. This analysis should be a wake-up call for public health to develop strategies that address caregiver health to help this at-risk population.”

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