Cognitive Decline Worsening
Baby Boomers, Dementia and Your Choice for Effective Interventions to Impact Your Cognition
A recent study published in the Journal of Gerontology declared that the American baby boomer generation is not as cognitively sharp during middle age and later in life as previous generations. The lead author in the study stated: “With the aging population in the U.S., we were already likely to see an increase in the number of people with dementia. But this study suggests it may be worse than we expected for decades to come.” Data was collected from 30,191 men and women, aged 51 and older. Cognitive scores peaked with the “war babies” generation (born 1942-1947), then began a slow decline in those born after. The lower cognition scores begin earlier now too, from ages 50-54, as compared to earlier generations where decline occurred later in life. In the study, there was no difference between genders, education levels, racial and ethnic groups, occupations, and income status.
Explanations for the decline included lower overall household wealth, lower likelihood of marriage, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and lack of physical exercise. Higher levels of loneliness, depression, and substance abuse (especially opioids) are also huge contributors, according to the researchers.
The research portrayed an alarming pattern of cognitive functioning as baby boomers reach older ages. Effective interventions in financial support, promoting social relationships, and encouraging physical exercise for better overall health can go a long way to slow or even prevent potential increases in dementia in the decades to come.
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