Health
Dementia has 2 shocking new risk factors, study finds, with total of 14 now on list
Two surprising new risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease are noted in a new study.
Untreated vision loss and high levels of LDL cholesterol have been linked to a greater chance of developing the common dementia type.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is sometimes called “bad cholesterol,” is associated with negative health effects when present in high amounts.
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Researchers from University College London led the study, published in The Lancet on Aug. 10.
The findings were also presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Philadelphia on July 31.
Untreated vision loss and high levels of LDL cholesterol have been linked to a greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s. (iStock)
Vision loss and high LDL cholesterol join a list of 12 other risk factors the researchers previously identified in 2020.
Those 12 are hearing loss, lower education, smoking, hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity, depression, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, air pollution, traumatic brain injury and social isolation.
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To identify the two new risk factors, the researchers analyzed dozens of recent studies on vision loss and high cholesterol.
The 14 total factors are responsible for roughly half of dementia cases globally, the researchers stated, which means eliminating them could potentially prevent many cases.
About half of all Alzheimer’s cases can be attributed to 14 total factors, the researchers stated. (iStock)
“Some dementia risk factors, such as alcohol consumption and physical exercise, can be managed by changing your lifestyle, but many must be addressed on a societal level,” Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at the Alzheimer’s Society in the U.K., said in a press release.
(The study was partly funded by the Alzheimer’s Society.)
“Social isolation, education inequalities and air pollution are beyond individuals’ control and require public health interventions and joint action between government and industry.”
“I tell patients all the time, ‘if it’s healthy for the heart, it’s healthy for the brain.’”
Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a board-certified neurologist at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, was not involved in the study but said it “substantiates a lot of things we have known about dementia for several years.”
He told Fox News Digital, “The study in Lancet shows higher levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol) — which is often related to diet and lifestyle choices — is related to a greater chance of developing a dementia process.”
To prevent vision loss, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting regular eye exams. (iStock)
“Genetic factors can play a role in elevated levels of LDL — however, even in these patients, diet modifications can be beneficial as well.”
The neurologist was also not surprised by the link between vision loss and development of dementia.
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“We have known for years that patients who have higher levels of education and are ‘well-read’ often develop dementia at a much later age,” Murray said.
“We rely heavily upon eyesight to be able to engage in our surroundings as well as stimulate cognitive thought.”
Reducing the risk
In his practice, Murray said, he is often asked about ways to prevent or reduce the risk of developing dementia at a later age.
“Patients have a good understanding of what a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle look like,” he told Fox News Digital.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is sometimes called “bad cholesterol,” is associated with negative health effects when present in high amounts. (iStock)
The brain is a “very vascular organ,” the doctor pointed out — which means it is closely linked to the heart.
“I tell patients all the time, ‘If it’s healthy for the heart, it’s healthy for the brain,’” Murray said.
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“This not only includes dietary changes, such as lower fat/lower cholesterol diets, but also lifestyle modifications, such as smoking and alcohol cessation.”
There is also evidence that the Mediterranean diet can be beneficial in delaying the onset of dementia, Murray noted.
“Regular exercise is beneficial from a vascular standpoint, and can also help from a mental standpoint,” a neurologist said. (iStock)
“Regular exercise is beneficial from a vascular standpoint, and can also help from a mental standpoint,” he added.
Participating in cognitively stimulating activities is also known to delay the potential onset of dementia, according to Murray.
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“I tell my patients to find some cognitively challenging activity they enjoy, whether that’s working puzzles or reading challenging books,” he said.
“These activities can maintain a higher level of cognitive abilities and retard the onset of dementia.”
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help to protect vision and promote heart health, doctors say. (iStock)
To prevent vision loss, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting regular eye exams, wearing protective eye wear in high-risk environments and wearing sunglasses to prevent exposure to UV rays.
Knowing your family’s eye health history, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and avoiding smoking can also prevent vision loss, the agency added.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers and the Alzheimer’s Society for additional comment.
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Comedian Amy Schumer, 44, has recently come clean about her struggle with Cushing’s syndrome, leading to a dramatic weight loss.
Schumer’s transformation has sparked conversation online, to which she responded in a now-deleted Instagram post that shut down speculation about cosmetic enhancements.
“I didn’t lose 30lbs — I lost 50,” she emphasized on social media, adding that she does not get Botox or filler.
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Schumer doubled down that her weight loss was not about her appearance, but about staying alive.
“Not to look hot, which does feel fun and temporary,” she said. “I did it to survive. I had a disease that makes your face extremely puffy that can kill you, but the internet caught it and that disease has cleared.”
Amy Schumer attends Variety’s 2024 Power of Women: New York event on May 2, 2024, in New York City on the left. On the right, Schumer later poses for a photo posted to Instagram after her weight loss. (Marleen Moise/WireImage; Amy Schumer/Instagram)
“Sorry for whatever feeling it’s giving you that I lost that weight,” she added. “I’ve had plastic surgery over the years and I use [Mounjaro]. Sorry to anyone they let down. I’m pain free. I can [play] tag with my son.”
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The actress also addressed her shifting hormones, saying that she’s “happy to share more if anyone has any questions about how I’m looking or feeling or where I am in my perimenopause process.”
“I didn’t lose 30lbs — I lost 50,” Schumer emphasized on social media, adding that she does not get Botox or filler. (Amy Schumer/Instagram)
What is Cushing’s syndrome?
Schumer previously revealed that she had been diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome, a hormonal disorder that can cause extreme swelling, fatigue and potentially fatal complications.
Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight loss specialist in New Jersey, provided more details on the condition in an interview with Fox News Digital.
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“Cushing’s syndrome is caused by prolonged, high exposure to cortisol, which is your body’s main stress hormone,” he said. “Usually, the excess cortisol is a result of prolonged steroid use. We see this many times with patients who have some autoimmune disorder.”
Balazs said the “key” to Cushing’s syndrome is not just weight gain, but a “specific redistribution” of fat caused by too much cortisol.
Amy Schumer is photographed during a guest interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Feb. 13, 2024 (left), and later seen walking through midtown New York City on Oct. 28, 2025 (right). (Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images; Raymond Hall/GC Images/Getty Images)
Fat may be driven to the abdomen, chest, upper back (referred to as a “buffalo hump”) or face, sometimes considered “moon face,” the doctor said.
Cortisol also breaks down protein, which leads to a thinning in the arms and legs. “Weight gain can be tough, involuntary and hard to manage,” Balazs added.
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Cortisol stimulates “hunger centers” in the brain, raises blood sugar and promotes fat storage, especially deep belly fat, according to the doctor.
Cushing’s syndrome can also cause high blood pressure, bone loss and sometimes type 2 diabetes, per Mayo Clinic.
In addition to weight gain in certain areas, other symptoms may include pink or purple stretch marks on the stomach, hips, thighs, breasts and underarms, as well as acne, slow wound healing, and thin, frail skin that bruises easily.
With Cushing’s syndrome, fat may accumulate in the abdomen, chest, face or upper back (referred to as a “buffalo hump”). (iStock)
Women with Cushing’s syndrome often experience thick, dark hair on the face and body, as well as irregular periods. Symptoms among men can include a lower sex drive, reduced fertility and erectile dysfunction.
Mayo Clinic listed other potential symptoms, including extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, trouble with concentration and memory, headache, sleeplessness, skin darkening and stunted growth in children.
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Those with symptoms should contact their doctor immediately, especially if they are taking steroids to treat health issues like asthma, arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease, as these medications can exacerbate the condition.
The Mayo Clinic has reported that the “sooner treatment starts, the better the chances for recovery.”
“I’ve had plastic surgery over the years and I use [Mounjaro],” Schumer stated in a social media post. (George Frey/Bloomberg)
For patients like Schumer, weight loss is typically not the main goal, Balazs noted, but it is a “critical sign” of successful treatment.
“The primary goal is to normalize your high cortisol levels,” he said. “I believe Amy Schumer got treated first for her underlying problem. Once the cortisol is normalized, which is the most important step, there’s a role to use adjunct medications to decrease weight.”
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Among GLP-1s, Mounjaro is an “excellent choice to decrease deep belly fat and increase insulin sensitivity of cells,” Balazs added.
Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.
Fox News Digital reached out to Schumer’s rep requesting comment.
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