How to Easily Cut Your Dementia Risk by 45%

This could be the reason your loved one won’t recognize you someday.

Author

My Longevity Experiment
March 30, 2025

Nearly Half of Dementia Cases Could Be Prevented Through Evidence-Based Lifestyle and Policy Changes

Nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide could be delayed, or even prevented, by addressing 14 specific modifiable risk factors. This powerful conclusion emerges from the most recent findings of the Lancet Commission on Dementia, published in the respected journal The Lancet. The study affirms that dementia prevention strategies, if implemented at scale, could dramatically alter the trajectory of this global health crisis.

A Growing Global Challenge

Dementia currently affects an estimated 57 million people across the globe. Projections indicate that this number will soar to 153 million by 2050. While high-income countries are witnessing a decline in dementia prevalence, the burden is shifting and intensifying in low- and middle-income countries due to aging populations, unequal access to care, and persistent health disparities.

Groundbreaking Findings from the Lancet Commission

The 2023 update of the Lancet Commission on Dementia presents compelling evidence that prevention is possible, and within reach. The latest report confirms 12 previously identified modifiable risk factors and introduces two newly validated ones: vision loss and elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly referred to as “bad” cholesterol.

The lead authors, a general internist and an applied sociologist and intervention scientist, collaborated with 25 globally recognized dementia researchers under the leadership of Professor Dr. Gill Livingston, a psychiatry expert. Together, they reviewed a robust body of published data to create a roadmap for dementia prevention and care.

According to their findings, targeting all 14 modifiable risk factors could reduce global dementia prevalence by up to 45 percent. The authors emphasize that even greater reductions are possible in lower-income countries and among economically disadvantaged populations in wealthier nations, where both dementia rates and preventable health risks are disproportionately high.

Improving Lives Through Nonpharmacological Interventions

The Commission's report also highlights the importance of nonpharmacological approaches in improving the quality of life for people already living with dementia. Clinical trials show that engaging patients in activities that match their personal interests, and cognitive abilities can significantly ease dementia-related symptoms.

These methods underscore a broader message: effective dementia care extends beyond medical treatment to include personalized, evidence-based support systems for patients and caregivers.

A Lifespan Approach to Prevention

The study outlines a multi-level prevention strategy that spans the entire human lifespan:

  • Early Life: Prioritize access to and quality of general education.

  • Midlife: Address hearing loss, high LDL cholesterol, depression, traumatic brain injury, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption.

  • Later Life: Reduce social isolation, air pollution, and vision loss.

This lifespan model reinforces the Commission’s estimate that nearly half of dementia cases could be prevented through proactive, targeted interventions.

“An abundance of new research shows that when risk factors are addressed, such as exposure to air pollution, they are linked with improved cognition and likely reduction of dementia risk,” the report states.

What Remains Unclear

While the projected 45 percent risk reduction assumes that all 14 risk factors are causal and can be fully eliminated, the authors acknowledge this is a theoretical model. Still, it powerfully illustrates the potential global health impact of widespread prevention efforts.

The report calls for expanded research to further identify risk factors, validate interventions through clinical trials, and scale public health strategies. It also serves as a comprehensive guide for policymakers, clinicians, and health organizations working to curb the rising tide of dementia.

Your Call to Action for Dementia Prevention Strategies

Dementia is not an inevitable consequence of aging, and this groundbreaking report proves it. By recognizing and acting on 14 modifiable risk factors across every stage of life, individuals, families, communities, and nations can make a measurable impact. Start by improving personal habits: schedule regular vision checkups, maintain a heart-healthy diet, stay physically active, engage socially, and manage cholesterol and blood pressure levels. At a policy level, support educational initiatives, cleaner air regulations, and equitable access to preventive healthcare. Together, these strategies form the foundation for a future where fewer people face the burden of dementia. Prevention is possible—and the time to act is now.

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