Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have developed a method for predicting dementia risk. Vulnerable individuals might then choose to make lifestyle changes or begin drug intervention to try to postpone or limit the disease.
They found that a combination of older age, low education levels, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and obesity are associated with developing dementia. So the researchers devised a test that assigns a risk-factor score. They published their work online August 3 in The Lancet Neurology.
Sure it might be good to know whether you or someone in your family is at-risk. But the drawback is there are several reasons why you might not want to know. From a Medscape article (registration required):
