Preventing Dementia MOOC
Genetic and Environmental Risks
Video Transcript
Dr Blochs
Today in the Wicking Dementia Laboratory we have 12 volunteers who are
going to demonstrate the influence of modifiable factors on our risk of
developing dementia. There are important non-modifiable risk factors for
dementia: things we can't change. We can't stop growing older, which is the
biggest risk factor for dementia, and we can’t change our family or our genes.
This group of 12 friends each has their own individual mix of genes inherited
from their parents. Some of them will be at higher risk of developing dementia
than others, because of their genes.
We can't actually measure anyone's level of genetic risk because it's complex
and involves many different genes. But for the purposes of our demonstration,
let's line up our friends and assume this represents the order of their dementia
risk according to the genetic make-up they were born with.
Hypothetically, if genes were the only thing affecting their risk, let's say 3 out of
4 people in the high risk group would get dementia, 2 out of 4 in the medium
risk group would get dementia, and just 1 out of 4 in the low risk group would
get dementia.
But genes are not the only factor that affects our risk. Now let's look at some of
the other factors that we know have an effect on our risk of developing
dementia and see if anyone's risk changes.
Let's start with Brenda, who hypothetically has the highest genetic risk. She
eats a healthy diet including lots of vegetables and fruits and fish, which is most
likely associated with a reduced risk in dementia, so she gets to move down the
line, closer to a lower risk.
Chris uses aluminium pots and pans, but there is no evidence this affects
dementia risk, so she stays where she is in the line.
Douglas does regular physical exercise, which is associated with a reduced risk
of dementia, so he gets to move down the line, closer to a lower risk.
From the Preventing Dementia MOOC h t t p s : / / m o o c . u t a s . e d u . a u
©2023, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania
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Edmond smokes cigarettes, and we know smoking increases the risk of
dementia, so he has a higher risk and unfortunately he moves up the line.
Fiona is 45 and has high blood pressure, but hasn't had it checked or treated,
and high blood pressure in midlife increases the risk of dementia, so she also
moves up the line.
Gary has decided to eat coconut oil every day, but this hasn't been proven to
affect dementia risk, so he stays where he is.
Heidi is learning a second language, and keeping your brain active is associated
with lower dementia risk, so she gets to move down the line.
Ivan meets regularly with his walking group and scrabble club. As social activity
is associated with reduced dementia risk, he moves down the line.
Joseph is 55 and very overweight, and we know that midlife obesity is
associated with increased dementia risk, so he moves up the line toward higher
risk.
Katie has diabetes and Luigi has depression. Both can be associated with
increased dementia risk if poorly managed, so they move up the line toward
higher risk.
Mary has decided to take ginkgo biloba supplements, but there is no evidence
they can reduce dementia risk, so she stays where she is.
Our friends have demonstrated how environmental and medical factors can
modify our risk of dementia.
Douglas started in the high risk group, but thanks to regular physical activity,
he moved to the medium risk group.
Fiona, who has high blood pressure and doesn't have regular check-ups to
keep it controlled, started with a medium risk but moved into the high risk
group.
Heidi and Ivan moved to the low risk group by keeping their brains active with
mental and social activities.
From the Preventing Dementia MOOC h t t p s : / / m o o c . u t a s . e d u . a u
©2023, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania
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This shows the choices we make can influence our risk of dementia just as
much as our genetics. Of course, it's not as simple as our example here,
because we each have many different lifestyle and health factors that might be
increasing or decreasing our risk.
The best any of us can do to reduce our risk of dementia is live a healthy and
active life and manage vascular risk factors and depression. This can't
guarantee we won't get dementia, but we'd all prefer to be in the low risk
group than the high risk group.
Thanks everyone. Who's for some fun brain stimulation? Let's build something!
From the Preventing Dementia MOOC h t t p s : / / m o o c . u t a s . e d u . a u
©2023, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania
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