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Song X, Mitnitski A et al. Neurology 2011; 77: 227–234

Age, more so than other medical conditions such as heart disease and other less well defined factors, for example a sedentary lifestyle, is the single most important risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD). The aim of this study was to explore other 'deficits', referred to collectively as a frailty index, that are not 'traditionally' attributed to AD. These comprised 19 'deficits' ranging from issues as diverse as 'Trouble with you feet or ankles?', 'Nose stuffed up or sneezing?' and, 'Does the denture fit?'. This longitudinal study looked for AD and dementia, 5 and 10 years after baseline examinations on 7,239 cognitively healthy Canadian older adults. When adjusted for 'traditional' risk factors, the odds ratio for dementia increased (p <0.021) for each 'deficit accumulated, outperforming the individual cognitive risk factors'. The investigators argue that multivariable logistic regression modelling should be used to better understand risk factors for dementia.