UC Davis Geriatric Psychiatrist Joins Lancet Dementia Prevention Commission

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Helen K. Kales, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is one of 26 international experts on the Lancet Commission on the Prevention, Intervention and Treatment of Dementia. The Commission has released two influential reports highlighting the growing body of scientific evidence identifying modifiable risk factors for the disease.

This is the third time Kales, a geriatric psychiatrist and dementia care expert, has been named to the prestigious panel.

“Participation in this panel is very interesting because with each meeting we have deepened our understanding of the modifiable risk factors for dementia,” Kales said. She refers to the first panel’s finding that hearing loss in middle age is a risk for dementia.

“Following studies have shown that hearing aids can reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. This is very important because it is unlikely that there will be a “magic cure” for dementia anytime soon, especially given the many causes involved,” Cales said.

In addition to hearing loss, risk factors for dementia identified in the 2017 report include low education, hypertension, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, and poor social contact.

Three more risk factors are added to the 2020 report: excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury and air pollution.

Helen S. Cales

As with heart disease, which has declined markedly over the decades thanks to work on risk factors in the population, we are increasingly convinced that we can reduce or delay many cases of dementia.” Helen S. Cales

The authors note: “Together, 12 modifiable risk factors account for about 40% of dementias worldwide that can theoretically be prevented or delayed. The potential for prevention is high and may be higher in low- and middle-income countries where dementia is more common.”

The World Health Organization estimates that there are 55 million people worldwide living with dementia and 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year.

These two reports are among the top 20 Lancet articles of all time. Collectively, they are quoted over 5,400 times and are reported by hundreds of news outlets.

“Just as in the case of cardiovascular disease, which has been markedly reduced over decades by work on risk factors in the population, we are increasingly convinced that we can reduce or delay many cases of dementia by identifying, and then researching and implementing ways to reduce these modifiable risks. Cales said.

As in previous reports, the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care will be chaired by Gill Livingston, Professor of Psychiatry at University College London. The new report includes researchers and physicians from Brazil, Japan, China, India, France, Uganda, Australia, Canada, Norway, Finland, the US and the UK. The commission will meet at University College London in May to make recommendations for a new report.

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