AUTHOR=Peeters Geeske , Almirall Sanchez Arianna , Llibre Guerra Jorge , Lawlor Brian , Kenny Rose Anne , Yaffe Kristine , Llibre Rodriguez Juan 

TITLE=Risk Factors for Incident Dementia Among Older Cubans

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00481

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2020.00481

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Introduction: Little is known about risk factors of dementia in Latin American countries. We aimed to identify socio-demographic, health and lifestyle risk factors of incident dementia in Cuban older adults.
Methods: Data were from 1846 participants in the Cuban cohort of the 10/66 Dementia Research Group. Participants completed questionnaires, health examinations, and cognitive tests at baseline (2003-06) and 4.5 years later (2007-10). Associations between risk factors (baseline) and incident dementia (follow-up) were examined using logistic regression.
Results: Just over 9% of participants developed dementia. Overall, older age and low physical activity were associated with incident dementia. In those 65-74 years of age, depression, stroke and low physical activity were associated with incident dementia. In those ≥75 years of age, low physical activity, never eating fish and smoking were associated with incident dementia. 
Conclusions: Modifiable lifestyle factors play an important role in developing dementia in Cuban older adults. This knowledge opens up opportunities for preventive strategies.