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Identifying dementia risk profiles for targeted interventions: A latent class analysis of at‐risk middle‐aged Australians
Muhammad Rehan Sarwar, Amanda J. Cross, Kali Godbee, Gopisankar Mohanannair Geethadevi, Parker John Magin, Mary Tullipan, Amanda Baker, Billie Bonevski et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-11-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Among 403 participants (mean age 56.4 ± 5.7 years, 62.5% female), the median number of dementia risk factors was 5.0; hyperlipidaemia (92.5%), low cognitive activity (72.5%), obesity (57.6%), and hypertension (52.7%) were the most prevalent. Several risk factors showed significant positive correlations. LCA identified three distinct classes: 1-High Cardiometabolic Burden; 2-High Behavioural and Psychosocial Risk; and 3-Low Risk with Healthy Behaviours. The identified latent classes highlight heterogeneity of dementia risk profile in midlife. Tailored, multidomain interventions addressing each group's specific needs may improve dementia risk profiles and support broader health outcomes. HIGHLIGHTS: Middle-aged Australians who participated in the HAPPI MIND dementia risk reduction trial had a median of five modifiable risk factors. Significant positive correlations were observed between behavioral and clinical risk factors, such as depression, along with poor diet, social isolation, and smoking. Latent class analysis revealed three distinct profiles: High Cardiometabolic Burden; High Behavioral and Psychosocial Risk; and Low Risk with Healthy Behaviors. The findings suggest there is a need for personalized, multidomain prevention strategies tailored to individual risk profiles in primary care.
Key findings
- Among 403 participants (mean age 56.4 ± 5.7 years, 62.5% female), the median number of dementia risk factors was 5.0; hyperlipidaemia (92.5%), low cognitive activity (72.5%), obesity (57.6%), and hypertension (52.7%) were the most prevalent.
- Several risk factors showed significant positive correlations.
- LCA identified three distinct classes: 1-High Cardiometabolic Burden; 2-High Behavioural and Psychosocial Risk; and 3-Low Risk with Healthy Behaviours.
- The identified latent classes highlight heterogeneity of dementia risk profile in midlife.
- Tailored, multidomain interventions addressing each group's specific needs may improve dementia risk profiles and support broader health outcomes.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study identified three distinct dementia risk profiles among at-risk middle-aged Australians. It suggests that tailored multidomain interventions may improve risk profiles, but it did not test whether any intervention prevents dementia.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants403
- Effect size62.5%; 92.5%; 72.5%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 403 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Johnson George: h-index 41 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Melbourne: institution h-index 1,342 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 14 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41200791) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Sarwar, M. R., Cross, A. J., Godbee, K., Geethadevi, G. M., Magin, P. J., Tullipan, M., et al. (2025). Identifying dementia risk profiles for targeted interventions: A latent class analysis of at‐risk middle‐aged Australians. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70888
Vancouver
Sarwar MR, Cross AJ, Godbee K, Geethadevi GM, Magin PJ, Tullipan M, et al. Identifying dementia risk profiles for targeted interventions: A latent class analysis of at‐risk middle‐aged Australians. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70888. PMID: 41200791.
BibTeX
@article{sarwar2025-41200791,
author = {Sarwar, Muhammad Rehan and Cross, Amanda J. and Godbee, Kali and Geethadevi, Gopisankar Mohanannair and Magin, Parker John and Tullipan, Mary and Baker, Amanda and Bonevski, Billie and others},
title = {{Identifying dementia risk profiles for targeted interventions: A latent class analysis of at‐risk middle‐aged Australians}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70888},
pmid = {41200791},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70888}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.