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Aims: Dementia is a major health problem. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and risk factors are associated with incident dementia. However, whether there is an association among CVD, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD) at the population level remains unclear. Methods: We analysed the association between CVD (heart failure [HF], atrial fibrillation [AF], myocardial infarction [MI], peripheral arterial disease, stroke and transient ischemic attack) and the incidence of dementia using nationwide FinnGen data of 218,192 individuals. The last follow‐up information on dementia was available from October 2021. Results: The age at the end of the follow‐up was 61.7 ± 17.1 years, and 53% were women. Overall, we observed 9701 (4.4%) dementia, 6323 (2.9%) AD and 1918 (0.7%) VD cases. Individuals with CVD had a higher risk of developing dementia than unexposed individuals. In the multivariable‐adjusted Cox models, stroke was most strongly associated with dementia (hazard ratio [HR] 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6–1.8). CVD was more strongly associated with VD than with AD. Individuals with HF and MI had an increased risk of AD (HF: HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04–1.19; MI: HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02–1.18). AF was associated with VD (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.42–1.77), but not with AD (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.97–1.09). Clinical characteristics, such as diabetes, smoking and alcohol abuse, were associated with both types of dementia. Conclusion: All major CVDs were associated with an increased risk of developing dementia, particularly VD. Therefore, CVD onset should prompt an assessment of cognitive decline and possible preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data from a representative survey among citizens in Germany during the first peak of the COVID-19 crisis, this paper empirically examines the acceptance of climate-oriented economic stimulus programmes and several further individual climate policy measures. On the basis of our descriptive analysis, we find no evidence that support for such policy measures in Germany is very different during the COVID-19 crisis, compared to before the crisis. However, our econometric analysis points to the relevance of economic concerns. For example, a perceived deterioration of the general economic situation due to the COVID-19 crisis (and thus sociotropic concerns) has a significantly negative effect on the acceptance of climate-oriented economic stimulus programmes. Our econometric analysis also reveals that 'pocketbook' or egotropic concerns are even more relevant since individuals with concerns about their personal economic situation due to the COVID-19 crisis are significantly less supportive of several individual climate policy measures, especially if these lead to higher costs in daily life and are thus directly financially unfavourable. In addition, an identification with socially oriented policy has a significantly positive effect on support for climate policy measures that are financially beneficial for socially underprivileged groups and a significantly negative effect on support for policy measures that are financially unfavourable for them. Our estimation results thus point to the importance of social aspects for the acceptance of climate-oriented policy measures. We also discuss several climate policy implications. For example, our estimation results suggest that individually perceived economic and financial concerns due to the COVID-19 crisis should be addressed and ideally reduced to increase public support of climate-oriented policy measures. We find no evidence that the acceptance of climate policy measures in Germany is very different during the COVID-19 crisis, compared to before the crisis. Our empirical results are in line with the idea that economic downturns or crises can decrease the acceptance of climate-oriented policy measures among individuals with concerns about their personal economic situation. Our empirical analysis also points to the relevance of social aspects for support for climate policy measures. Therefore, general economic concerns due to the COVID-19 crisis should be addressed and ideally reduced to increase public support for climate-oriented policy measures. In addition, successful climate policy should be socially oriented and should consider distribution effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]