Epidemiology of dementia in a Japanese community:the Hisayama study

Tomoyuki Ohara¹⁾²⁾, Toshiharu Ninomiya²⁾

¹⁾Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University
²⁾Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University

A population-based prospective cohort study of dementia has been conducted in Hisayama town since 1985. The prevalence of dementia increased significantly from 1985 to 2012.
In a prospective study of dementia, hypertension, diabetes, and persistent smoking from midlife to late life are significant risk factors for dementia. Meanwhile, regular exercise and high adherence to a traditional Japanese diet rich in vegetables in addition to milk and dairy products were significantly associated with lower risk of dementia.
Our findings indicate that not only prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases, but also having a healthy lifestyle are important to reduce the risk of dementia.

Address correspondence to Dr. Tomoyuki Ohara, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University (3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan)