Brain HealthDementia Risk in India Shaped by Diabetes, Pollution, and Research Gaps
India's aging population faces a growing dementia burden, but most research has focused on Western populations. This narrative review examined dementia prevalence and 14 modifiable risk factors across Indian studies. While overall dementia rates appear lower than in Western countries, high rates are seen in women, rural populations, and people with diabetes — which presents with unique metabolic patterns in India. Underreported alcohol use, air pollution, traumatic brain injuries, loneliness, and sensory loss are widespread but poorly studied in relation to dementia. The review concludes that longitudinal studies are urgently needed to identify which risk and protective factors matter most in this population, and that current prevention strategies based on Western data may miss critical India-specific drivers of cognitive decline.
