Building on groundbreaking research, a new Lancet report details how nearly half of global dementia cases could be either prevented or delayed by addressing 14 key risk factors throughout one’s life. Unveiled at the Alzheimer’s Association international conference, this report champions a proactive approach to dementia, advocating for lifestyle adjustments and public health interventions as potential game-changers in the battle against this debilitating disease.

The Lancet’s recommendations include:

• Education and Cognitive Activities: Ensure high-quality education is available for all and encourage cognitively stimulating activities in midlife to protect cognition.
• Hearing Protection: Make hearing aids accessible for people with hearing loss and decrease harmful noise exposure.
• Depression Treatment: Treat depression effectively.
• Head Protection: Encourage the use of helmets in contact sports and on bicycles.
• Physical Activity: Encourage exercise, as those who participate are less likely to develop dementia.
• Smoking Reduction: Reduce cigarette smoking through education, price control, and smoking cessation programs.
• Hypertension Management: Prevent or reduce hypertension, maintaining systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or less from age 40.
• Cholesterol Management: Detect and treat high LDL cholesterol from midlife.
• Weight Management: Maintain a healthy weight and treat obesity early to also help prevent diabetes.
• Alcohol Consumption: Reduce high alcohol consumption through price control and awareness.
• Community Support: Prioritize age-friendly and supportive community environments and housing to reduce social isolation.
• Vision Health: Make screening and treatment for vision loss accessible for all.
• Air Pollution: Reduce exposure to air pollution.

These steps, from enhancing education to reducing exposure to pollutants, underscore a holistic approach to dementia prevention. Implementing these recommendations could lead to significant public health savings and improve the quality of life for millions worldwide, reducing the societal and economic burdens as the global population ages.

Still to be noted is the genetical load. The Lancet report suggests that addressing the listed modifiable risk factors could prevent or delay about 45% of dementia cases. Thus, more than half of dementia cases might be influenced by factors not addressed in these recommendations, including genetics. The report: https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(24)01296-0.pdf