Data Trends 2023: Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Slideshow below.

Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are diseases of note in veterans, with a 10.1% prevalence at the VA.⁶ Military experience can be associated with other conditions, such as TBI and PTSD, which contribute to an increased risk of dementia.^6,7 Certain genes are also related to elevated risk, and stress can affect dementia development.^8,9 Environmental exposures, such as Agent Orange, may also increase risk in veterans.¹⁰ Despite these environmental and genetic factors, there is a silver lining: new drugs targeting amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques have shown promising results in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.¹¹

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