Association between dementia parental family history and mid-life modifiable risk factors for dementia

Individuals with a parental family history (PFH) of dementia have an increased risk to develop dementia, regardless of genetic risks. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between a parental family history of dementia and currently known modifiable risk factors for dementia among middle-aged individuals using propensity score matching (PSM).
The study population included 89,869 participants of which 10 940 (12.2%) had a parental family history of dementia and 36,389 (40.5%) without a parental family history of dementia. Of 42,540 participants (47.3%), parental family history of dementia was imputed. After PSM, potential confounding variables were balanced between individuals with and without parental family history of dementia. Individuals with a parental family history of dementia had more often hypertension (OR=1.19), high cholesterol (OR=1.24), diabetes (OR=1.26), cardiovascular diseases (OR=1.49), depression (OR=1.23), obesity (OR=1.14) and overweight (OR=1.10), and were more often current smokers (OR=1.20) and ex-smokers (OR=1.21). However, they were less often low/moderate alcohol consumers (OR=0.87; 95% CI 0.83 to 0.91), excessive alcohol consumers (OR=0.93; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98), socially inactive (OR=0.84; 95% CI 0.78 to 0.90) and physically inactive (OR=0.93; 95% CI 0.91 to 0.97). Having a parental family history of dementia resulted in a higher LIBRA score (RC=0.15; 95% CI 0.11 to 0.19).
The authors found that having a parental family history of dementia was associated with several modifiable risk factors. This suggests that middle-aged individuals with a parental family history of dementia are a group at risk and could benefit from dementia risk reduction. Further research should explore their knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards dementia risk reduction, and whether they are willing to assess their risk and change their lifestyle to reduce dementia risk.
Source: VrijsenJ, Abu- HannaA, de Rooij SE, et al. Association between dementia parental family history and mid-life modifiable risk factors for dementia: a cross-sectional study using propensity score matching within the Lifelines cohort. BMJ Open 2021;11:e049918.