AI-Powered Prediction of Dementia Risk in Aging Adults

Exploring social determinants, genetic predispositions and disparities across race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status

Dementia is a growing public health concern, especially among older adults. It is a chronic condition that gradually affects memory, thinking, and daily functioning. This decline not only impacts those with dementia but also places a heavy burden on their families. By 2050, an estimated 139 million people worldwide will be living with dementia. While genetics play a role in dementia risk, lifestyle and social factors also matter. These social determinants of health (SDOH) include the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. Key factors include income, education, access to healthcare, neighborhood environment, and social connections and unequal access to these resources contributes to health disparities across race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

Despite growing awareness, we still don’t fully understand how social and genetic factors interact to influence dementia risk. In this study, the team will use data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and apply machine learning to predict dementia risk as people age. By combining genetic information with social factors, they aim to develop models that identify those at higher risk. This research could lead to earlier interventions to delay or prevent dementia and help create more personalized healthcare strategies based on individual risk profiles.

The team includes Dr. Yong Yang, associate professor of Social and Behavior Science in the School of Public Health; Dr. Xiajun Jiang, assistant professor of Computer Science; Dr. Leanne Lefler, professor and associate Dean of Loewenberg College of Nursing; Dr. Joyce Jiang, an associate professor of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health; and Dr. Khyobeni Mozhui, associate professor of Preventive Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

For more information on this study, contact Yang at yyang15@memphis.edu.