Unique Alzheimer’s Risk Factors in South Asian Americans

Research indicates that risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias vary among different populations. For South Asian Americans, these factors might be particularly distinct. A review in Alzheimer’s & Dementia explored 25 years of studies on dementia in India. Findings suggest South Asians face different genetic, lifestyle, and health risks compared to those of European descent.

Rutgers University’s Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center emphasized the underrepresentation of South Asians in Alzheimer’s research. This leaves gaps in understanding the disease’s development in this community. Study leader Michal Schnaider Beeri stated that no study in the U.S. focuses exclusively on brain health in aging South Asians. Thus, the evidence remains limited, especially considering factors like immigration and acculturation.

Despite these gaps, focusing on cardiometabolic health could significantly reduce dementia risk among South Asian Americans. Prioritizing management of diabetes, hypertension, and addressing vision and hearing issues, alongside mental and physical activity, is crucial.

The research team compared studies from India with the 2024 Lancet Commission’s 14 modifiable dementia risk factors. Managing these factors could prevent up to 45% of dementia cases globally. For South Asians, diabetes and metabolic disorders, which often present early, are particularly significant. South Asians tend to develop diabetes at younger ages and lower weights, forming a distinct pattern differing from other groups.

Educational attainment also greatly influences dementia risk in India, accounting for 22% of modifiable risk. Adults with no formal education are more than three times likelier to develop dementia than those with primary education. Additionally, vision and hearing impairments are salient contributors. Untreated vision loss is linked to 14% of dementia cases, while hearing loss heightens the risk by 59% and doubles the Alzheimer’s risk.

Regarding genetics, certain risk variants common in European ancestry seem to exert less impact in South Asians. The discovery prompts the South Asian Middle Age Risk Tracking for Brain Health (SAMARTH) study at Rutgers. This study aims to discern specific risk and protective factors for Alzheimer’s among South Asian adults in the U.S.

Beeri noted that SAMARTH is designed to fill these gaps, seeking to tailor appropriate prevention and treatment strategies for South Asian populations.