There are important implications for forecasting future global disease burden, especially in developing countries as they increase in sanitation
-Molly Fox
New research has found a “very significant” relationship between a nation’s wealth and hygiene and the Alzheimer’s “burden” on its population. High-income, highly industrialised countries with large urban areas and better hygiene exhibit much higher rates of Alzheimer’s.
Using ‘age-standardised’ data - which predict Alzheimer’s rates if all countries had the same population birth rate, life expectancy and age structure - the study found strong correlations between national sanitation levels and Alzheimer’s.
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Image:Wash your hands
Credit: Prempcc via Flickr
Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge
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