WHO Issues New Guidelines on How to Reduce Dementia Cases by 45%
With 14 risk factors we can target.
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The World Health Organization has unveiled new guidelines aimed at preventing or delaying dementia onset, with research suggesting that nearly half of all dementia cases may be preventable through targeted interventions. According to a major 2024 review published in The Lancet, approximately 45 percent of dementia cases are associated with 14 potentially modifiable risk factors that individuals and healthcare systems can address.
Many of the recommended preventive measures align with established cardiovascular health practices, including maintaining physical activity, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, eating nutritious food, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Additionally, the WHO emphasizes the importance of addressing hearing loss, which recent clinical trials suggest may slow cognitive decline by up to 50 percent in some older adults at higher risk.
However, not all risk factors are equally addressable. Lower educational attainment and air pollution exposure represent challenges that are difficult for individuals to modify after the fact. The organization also cautions against relying on unproven interventions, specifically recommending against vitamin B and E supplements, omega-3 supplements, and multivitamin complexes for dementia prevention unless a nutrient deficiency exists.
While the 45 percent figure represents potential prevention at a population level rather than individual risk reduction, experts emphasize that comprehensive brain health stems largely from maintaining overall bodily wellness, particularly cardiovascular health and sensory function.
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Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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