The Lancet review offers six ways to reduce dementia risk.
Researchers globally contributed to this review.
Focus on modifiable risk factors.
Six Ways to Reduce Dementia Risk
1. Stimulate Your Mind
Education level impacts dementia risk.
Higher education linked to reduced risk.
Cognitive stimulation is key, not just formal education.
Critical thinking and reading reduce risk.
Unadjusted associations: Confounding factors like workplace hazards.
Takeaway: Engage in reading and critical thinking daily.
2. Protect Your Hearing
Hearing loss shown to increase dementia risk.
Interstudy heterogeneity due to hearing aid use.
Hearing aids might protect against dementia.
Takeaway: Use hearing protection in noisy environments.
3. Treat Depression
Depression linked to increased dementia risk.
Potential for reverse causation: dementia causing depression.
Takeaway: Address depression symptoms with specialist help.
4. Avoid Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain injury increases dementia risk.
Micro traumas, such as heading a soccer ball, also pose a risk.
Takeaway: Protect your head from trauma.
5. Avoid and Treat Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes linked to dementia, with earlier onset posing greater risk.
Takeaway: Manage diabetes through diet, exercise, and medication.
6. Cease Smoking
Smoking cessation reduces dementia risk to non-smoker levels.
Takeaway: Quit smoking to significantly reduce risk.
Additional Considerations
Modifiable risk factors can reduce risk by up to 45%.
Genetics and non-modifiable factors still pose a risk.
Early intervention is crucial.
Recap
Six modifiable risk factors: Mental stimulation, hearing loss, depression, brain injury, diabetes, and smoking.
Addressing these factors can significantly reduce dementia risk.
Main Important Information
Factors to Reduce Dementia Risk
Stimulate Your Mind
Education Level: Higher education is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.
Cognitive Stimulation: Engaging in critical thinking and reading throughout the day can also reduce the risk, even for those with less formal education.
Examples: Reading, critical thinking, and cognitive stimulation at work.
Protect Your Hearing
Hearing Loss: Hearing loss is a significant risk factor for dementia.
Hearing Aids: While evidence is still emerging, hearing aids may help protect against dementia.
Depression and Dementia: Depression is linked to increased dementia risk, though the relationship is complex.
Reverse Causation: Dementia itself may cause depression later in life.
Advice: Address symptoms of depression by consulting a specialist.
Avoid Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain Trauma: Repeated, even minor, head injuries can increase the risk of dementia.
Examples: Activities like heading a soccer ball can pose a risk.
Precautions: Protect your head from even minor trauma.
Avoid and Treat Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes and Dementia: Developing diabetes later in life (after 60) is not linked to dementia.
Mechanisms: Elevated blood sugar, oxidative stress, and vascular damage are potential mechanisms.
Prevention: Maintain good nutrition, manage weight, and engage in physical activity.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking and Dementia: Quitting smoking can completely revert the risk of dementia to that of a non-smoker.
Time Component: The risk reduction is significant after several years of quitting.
Additional Considerations
Modifiable Risk Factors: Up to 45% of dementia risk can be reduced by addressing these modifiable factors.
Non-Modifiable Factors: Genetics and other non-modifiable factors also play a role in dementia risk.
Comprehensive Approach: Combining these strategies with other healthy practices can significantly reduce the overall risk of dementia.
Risk Assessment Template: Using a risk assessment template can help calculate an individual's risk of developing dementia, even when modifiable risks are minimized.
Non-Modifiable Risks: Despite eliminating modifiable risks, non-modifiable risks still play a role in the development of dementia.
Timing of Risk Factors: Early exposure to risk factors such as traumatic brain injury, smoking, and depression increases the likelihood of developing dementia. These factors are less impactful later in life but should not be disregarded.
Six Key Risk Factors for Dementia:
Lack of education or mental stimulation in daily life.