At a time when good news can be counted on the fingers of one hand, here is a major one: according to a recent study published this Tuesday, August 4, 2020 in the specialized journal Neurology, Alzheimer’s disease is declining in Europe and the United States. The risk of developing this neurodegenerative disease has thus decreased by approximately 13% in the space of 10 years.
To reach this (reassuring) conclusion, the researchers followed 50,000 people in the United States and France (notably in Bordeaux, Dijon and Montpellier) for at least 27 years. On the other hand, this significant drop was not observed in Russia, Asia or South America.
“The important question that arises now, and to which we seek an answer, is why this drop in the number of new cases in Europe and the United States?asks Dr. Albert Hofman, the main coordinator of this work.
Alzheimer’s disease, linked to educational level and cardiovascular health
If nothing is certain, scientists put forward several hypotheses: “among them are the increase in the level of education and the improvement of cardiovascular health, linked in particular to the reduction in smoking“.
Indeed: it is known that the higher the number of years of higher education, the lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, Alzheimer’s disease also depends on cardiovascular factors – such as blood pressure, blood lipid levels, physical activity rate…
In France, at present, about 900,000 people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease; after 65 years, 2% to 4% of French people are affected, and 15% after 80 years. Medical research estimates that in 2040, this neurodegenerative pathology will affect 2.1 million people in the country.
Source : Le FigaroAugust 8-9, 2020
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