Online calculator determines five-year risk for dementia

Ottawa. Where did the key to the front door go? What was the name of the neighbor’s cat? What day of the week is this? It’s completely normal that we forget things sometimes—and there’s no cause for alarm. If this amnesia occurs repeatedly or over a long period of time, it becomes problematic, perhaps even accompanied by orientation problems or poor concentration. This can be a sign of dementia. According to German Alzheimer’s Society About 1.6 million people in Germany suffer from dementia.

A Canadian research team has now developed a new online tool with which people aged 55 and older can determine their risk of developing dementia for the next five years. where did it go “Dementia Calculator” It uses an algorithm called DemPoRT, which is based on anonymized data from the Canadian Community Health Survey. It is based on survey data from 50,000 residents of the Canadian province of Ontario who are 55 years of age or older. The exact procedure is described by scientists from Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Breuere Research Institute and ICES Research Institute.Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health“.

Online calculator is available in English only

“The difference with this dementia risk calculator is that you don’t need to go to the doctor for any tests,” study author Stacy Fischer explains in one. Ottawa Hospital Press Release Cited. “People already have all the information they need to fill out a calculator from the comfort of their own home.”

The “dementia calculator” asks about the various factors that can affect the risk of dementia – for example physical activity, alcohol consumption, diet and stress. “The Covid-19 pandemic has also made it clear that socio-demographic variables such as ethnicity and neighborhood play a large role in our health,” said study lead author Peter Tanuseputro. “It was important to incorporate these variables into the tool so that policymakers can better understand how different populations are affected by dementia.”

In a matter of minutes, participants can use a “dementia calculator” to calculate their risk of dementia and get tips on how to reduce it. According to Ottawa Hospital, the online tool can estimate the number of new cases in a community, identify high-risk populations and provide information on dementia prevention strategies. As of now, the computer can only be used in Canada, which means it is only available in English. However, it is possible to adapt this for every other country that collects health survey data, the Ottawa hospital said.