Research indicates that risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias vary among different populations. For South Asian Americans, these factors may differ significantly, according to recent findings published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. The study reviews 25 years of research on dementia prevalence and risk factors in India. It highlights that South Asians face unique genetic, lifestyle, and health-related risks compared to populations of European ancestry.
The team at Rutgers University’s Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center points out a notable underrepresentation of South Asians in Alzheimer’s research. This lack of data hinders understanding of disease development in this community. “In the United States, there has not been a focused study on brain health among aging South Asians,” said study leader Michal Schnaider Beeri to Newsweek. Consequently, existing evidence is limited and challenging to compare with research from South Asia due to variables like immigration and lifestyle changes.
Despite these gaps, Beeri emphasizes the importance of managing cardiometabolic health, especially diabetes and hypertension, to reduce dementia risk in South Asian Americans. It’s crucial to also address vision and hearing loss, maintain physical and mental activity, and foster strong social connections.
Researchers examined studies conducted in India from 2000 to 2025 and compared their findings to 14 modifiable risk factors identified by the 2024 Lancet Commission. These factors, including diabetes, vision and hearing impairments, and educational attainment, could potentially account for up to 45% of global dementia cases if managed effectively.
Diabetes and metabolic disorders are particularly relevant for South Asians, who often develop diabetes at younger ages and lower body weights. “In South Asian populations, vascular and metabolic risk factors for dementia emerge earlier and may have a more significant impact,” noted Beeri. Diabetes can considerably increase dementia risk, and the interaction between these diseases in South Asians differs from other groups. They tend to have different diabetes profiles, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention strategies.
Education is another critical factor, accounting for 22% of modifiable dementia risk in India, compared to 8% globally. A study reviewed showed that dementia was over three times more common among adults without formal education versus those with primary education.
Vision and hearing impairments are also prevalent, with untreated vision loss potentially responsible for about 14% of dementia cases in India. Hearing loss was associated with a 59% higher dementia risk and nearly double the risk of Alzheimer’s.
The research also notes that genetic variants known to increase dementia risk in Europeans have less impact in South Asians. These findings support the South Asian Middle Age Risk Tracking for Brain Health (SAMARTH) study at Rutgers, which monitors South Asian adults in the U.S. to identify specific risk and protective factors for dementia.
“SAMARTH aims to fill existing gaps by delineating dementia risk and protective profiles unique to South Asian populations, which will help in designing targeted prevention and treatment strategies,” said Beeri.