As a global public health crisis, dementia imposes a substantial burden on individuals, healthcare systems, and societies worldwide. There are also large amounts of undiagnosed cases, particularly among ethnic minorities and low-income groups with limited healthcare access. All subtypes of dementia are progressive, and the duration from dementia diagnosis to death is short, underscoring the need for early identification and intervention. Current dementia prediction models suffer from limited generalisability due to reliance on invasive tests and underrepresentation of non-Western populations.
Research questions of this study: 1. What biological, sociodemographic and modifiable lifestyle factors synergistically contribute to dementia risk? 2. How do dementia risk profiles differ between the UK Biobank and East Asian cohorts?
The objectives of this study include: 1. To develop and validate a dementia risk prediction model for the UK Biobank cohort that integrates genetic factors, biomarkers, sociodemographic variables, and modifiable lifestyle factors. 2. To identify ethnic and cultural disparities in risk factor effect sizes by contrasting UK Biobank data with East Asian cohorts.
By integrating biomarkers with modifiable risk factors, this study could enhance the predictive power of dementia risk models and their real-world applicability. Identifying ethnic and cultural differences in risk factor prevalence and effect sizes will contribute to the development of tailored strategies for dementia prevention and early intervention.
