4 Topic Commentaries

Who develops dementia after 90?

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  Claudia H. Kawas, MD

  Geriatric neurology; aging and dementia research

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  University of California, Irvine

  If you have Alzheimer’s pathology, your risk of dementia is perhaps twice as likely. But if you have microinfarcts, your likelihood of having dementia is four times greater; if you have hippocampal sclerosis, your likelihood is 10 times greater.

  Source
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  María M. Corrada, ScD

  Epidemiology of aging and dementia

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  University of California, Irvine School of Medicine

  There are some individuals who can maintain high levels of cognitive function well into advanced ages. Further research into the factors that enable these individuals to maintain their cognitive function could provide insights into how to preserve cognitive health despite advanced age.

  Source
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  Nina Silverberg, PhD

  Alzheimer’s disease research program leadership

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  National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health

  Recent research and clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease have taught us two things: First, not all of the people we thought had Alzheimer’s have it; second, it is very important to understand the other contributors to dementia.

  Source
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  Peter T. Nelson, MD, PhD

  Neuropathology of aging and dementia

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  University of Kentucky

  More than 200 different viruses can cause the common cold. So why would we think there is just one cause of dementia?

  Source