Distinct Dementia Risk Factors Identified for South Asian Americans

New research highlights that Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia might not have uniform risk factors across different populations. South Asian Americans appear to face unique risks, as suggested by a study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. This study reviewed 25 years of research on dementia in India, showing that South Asians may experience a particular mix of genetic, lifestyle, and health-related risks, compared to populations with European ancestry.

Researchers from Rutgers University’s Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center pointed out a significant underrepresentation of South Asians in Alzheimer’s research, leading to gaps in understanding how the disease develops in this group. Michal Schnaider Beeri, a study leader, mentioned to Newsweek that a specific study focusing on aging South Asians’ brain health in the U.S. has never been conducted. The existing evidence is limited and only partially comparable to studies from India and other South Asian countries, due to factors like immigration, acculturation, and changes in lifestyle.

Despite these gaps, it is believed that managing cardiometabolic health—especially diabetes and hypertension—along with addressing vision and hearing issues, and maintaining physical and mental activity, can significantly reduce dementia risk for South Asian Americans. In India, research conducted between 2000 and 2025 was analyzed and compared with 14 modifiable dementia risk factors identified by the 2024 Lancet Commission. These factors account for up to 45% of dementia cases worldwide if effectively managed.

The study underlines the importance of diabetes and metabolic disorders for South Asians, who often develop diabetes at younger ages and lower body weights than other groups. Beeri noted that vascular and metabolic risk factors are particularly critical for dementia prevention in this population. The form of diabetes prevalent among South Asians differs, as it is often characterized by insulin deficiency rather than the insulin resistance seen with obesity in other groups. This form appears earlier and progresses more rapidly from prediabetes to overt diabetes.

Education plays a crucial role, with limited education accounting for 22% of modifiable dementia risk in India, compared to 8% globally. One study found dementia more common in adults without formal schooling compared to those with primary education.

Vision and hearing impairments are widespread, with untreated vision loss accounting for about 14% of dementia cases in India. Hearing loss is linked to a significantly higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Genetic variants known to increase dementia risk in people of European ancestry seem to have a lesser impact among South Asians.

The Rutgers SAMARTH study aims to address these knowledge gaps by tracking risk and protective factors among South Asian adults in the U.S., aiming to inform better prevention and treatment strategies specific to this population.