US states with the highest dementia rates revealed did yours make the list?

Home is where the heart is — but it also might be where your memory slips away.A sweeping new study found that dementia rates vary drastically across the US in ways that can’t be explained by traditional risk factors.The research suggests that where you live could play a significant role in whether you develop the memory-robbing disease later in life, opening new doors for targeted prevention efforts.Dementia is a growing public health concern that affects more than 6 million Americans and causes over 100,000 deaths each year, according to the National Institutes of Health.Looking ahead, researchers predict new dementia cases in the US will double over the next 40 years — increasing from roughly 514,000 in 2020 to nearly 1 million by 2060.That means Americans over 55 face a 42% lifetime risk of being diagnosed.But could your zip code hold the key to lowering those odds?Researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF) analyzed health data from more than 1.2 million veterans aged 65 and older, courtesy of the Veterans Health Administration.Over an average of 12 years, the team tracked who developed the disease — then compared the numbers by location.The Mid-Atlantic had the lowest dementia rate, with just 11.2 cases per 1,000 people annually.

But other parts of the country saw significantly higher risks:Notably, the regional differences couldn’t be explained when researchers factored in common risk factors like age, race, heart disease or rural versus urban living.The study does have some limitations.

The authors only looked at veterans, who are mostly male and may not reflect the general population.This group also faces unique risks, like traumatic brain injury and PTSD, which could impact their odds.Still, the results were clear: where you live matters. “The study underscores the need to understand regional differences in dementia and the importance of region-specific prevention and intervention efforts,” Dr.

Kristine Yaffe, senior author of the study and di...

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Publisher: New York Post

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