Taller men may have lower dementia risk in old age: Study

Men who are taller may have a lower risk of dementia later in life, according to a Danish study.

Finding ways to identify individuals at risk of dementia can help people take preventive measures, or plan for their future care, the researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark noted.

The study, published in the journal eLife, indicates that young adult height might be one potential risk factor to consider.

Dementia is a collective term used to describe various symptoms of cognitive decline, such as forgetfulness.

Previous studies have suggested that height may be a risk factor for dementia, the researchers said.

However, much of this research was not able to take into account genetic, environmental, or other early-life factors that may be linked to both height and dementia, they said.

"We wanted to see if body height in young men is associated with diagnosis of dementia, while exploring whether intelligence test scores, educational level, and underlying environmental and ...