The world’s leading experts say simple lifestyle changes could prevent millions of cases of dementia. They have published the definitive “roadmap” to defeating the disease.
In a significant new report, scientists have made 56 evidence-based recommendations to reduce the risk of dementia dramatically. They include tackling hearing loss, high blood pressure, and social isolation; improving public health awareness; eliminating environmental stressors; and ensuring sustainable funding for prevention.
The analysis builds on the findings of the 2024 Lancet Commission, which identified 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia and concluded that almost half of Alzheimer’s cases could be prevented.
These include high cholesterol, untreated hearing and vision loss, physical inactivity, social isolation, and long-term exposure to air pollution – factors that, according to the authors, are still not being tackled seriously enough at the population level.
Experts also noted that prevention efforts are most effective when messages focus on factors that people can influence. They said that clear messages, such as “Losing weight can reduce the risk of dementia,” are more effective than vague warnings or complex technical terminology.
