U.S. public perceptions on Whether Risk of Dementia and Stroke Can Be Modified Through Maintaining or Changing Lifestyle

Background Epidemiological studies suggest that approximately 40% of dementia and 60% of stroke cases could be prevented through adequate control of modifiable risk factors. Limited data are available on the public perceptions in the United States (U.S.) on whether the risk of dementia and stroke can be modified through lifestyle changes. Methods A survey utilizing questions from validated questionnaires was distributed to a sample of the general U.S. population. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses for which the binary exposure was ever having known someone with dementia or stroke, and the primary outcomes were the perceptions on whether dementia and stroke risk could be modified through maintaining or changing lifestyle. Results We included 1,478 participants (mean [SD] age: 45.5 [15.9], 51.1% female), of whom 80% (N = 1185) ever knew someone with dementia or stroke. Over 75% of all participants perceived that a healthy lifestyle can lower dementia and stroke risks. Following multivariable analyses, participants who ever knew someone with dementia or stroke were more likely to agree that maintaining (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.41, 95%CI:1.01–1.96) and that changing lifestyle (aOR = 1.59, 95%CI:1.14–2.24) reduces dementia risk, when adjusted for age, sex assigned at birth, race/ethnicity, level of education, employment status, and being a caregiver for someone with dementia or stroke. Participants who knew someone with dementia or stroke were also more likely to agree that maintaining (aOR = 1.77, 95%CI:1.27–2.47) or changing lifestyle (aOR = 2.31, 95%CI:1.41–3.76) reduces stroke risk when adjusted for similar confounders. Discussion This cross-sectional cohort, mimicking the general U.S. population, demonstrated that over eighty percent of individuals ever knew someone with dementia or stroke and that this was positively associated with the perceptions that dementia and stroke risk could be modified through lifestyle changes. The widespread exposure of the U.S. public to dementia and stroke first-hand can be leveraged into more effective preventive strategies.