Monitoring risk factors for dementia in middle-aged and older adults: a longitudinal study

ABSTRACT. Given the importance of dementia syndrome and its impacts on the population, interest in studying modifiable risk factors for dementia is growing. Objective: To compare the prevalence of risk factors for dementia in middle-aged and older adults over a two-year period and to identify what variables in baseline were predictive of cognitive decline in the follow-up. Methods: Longitudinal and quantitative study, with follow-up evaluation after two years, conducted with 200 participants aged 45 years or more, registered in Primary Care Units. In the baseline (2018/2019) and follow-up (2021) assessments, sociodemographic data were collected, and cognitive performance and risk factors for dementia were evaluated (education, hearing loss, head trauma, high blood pressure, alcohol use, obesity, smoking, depressive symptoms, social isolation, physical inactivity, and diabetes mellitus). Data were compared using the McNemar’s test. Individual multinomial logistic regression models were performed to identify the factors associated with cognitive decline after two years. Results: The percentages of low education, traumatic brain injury, and smoking remained the same in both assessments. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of high blood pressure (from 55.0 to 62.0%) and physical inactivity (from 58.5 to 74.5%) and a significant reduction in social isolation (from 25.0 to 18.0%). Participants with depressive symptoms in baseline had a higher risk of cognitive decline in follow-up. Conclusion: There was an increase in the prevalence of high blood pressure and physical inactivity and a reduction in social isolation after two years. Depressive symptoms predict cognitive decline.