Veterans and Alzheimer's: 6 lifestyle tips for staving off the disease

Veterans and Alzheimer's: 6 lifestyle tips for staving off the disease 
NOLA.com, New Orleans, Louisiana; by Dana Territo; 11/11/24 
Are veterans more prone to Alzheimer’s disease? According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other dementias than the general public, and the number of veterans with Alzheimer's is expected to grow. For instance, in 2021, an estimated 457,391 veterans had Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is projected to increase by 8.4% to more than 488,000 by 2033. Age is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease as a whole, and veterans are more likely to have health conditions that further increase that risk, including high cholesterol, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Additionally, homelessness contributes to that risk as homeless veterans are more likely to have an Alzheimer’s diagnosis than those who are stably housed. ... [The 6 lifestyle tips include the following:] ... staying physically active, maintaining good nutrition, prioritizing sleep, keeping socially connected, managing stress and keeping intellectually stimulated. 
Editor's note: The focus for our readers is (1) that "veterans are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other dementias than the general public, and (2) the "number is projected to by 8.4% ... by 2033."