Addressing Lifestyle Risks May Reduce Dementia Cases
Nearly half of dementia cases could relate to changeable risk factors. New research reveals how lifestyle habits and chronic conditions harm the brain over time. Researchers at Sweden’s Lund University conducted the study. They linked common health risks like smoking, high blood pressure, heart disease, and high blood lipids with brain damage typical of vascular dementia.
Study Findings
Dementia includes a range of disorders with various causes. Risk factors differ based on the specific diagnosis. To understand risk effects on Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, Lund University researchers studied nearly 500 participants. The average age was 65, and the study lasted four years. Participants showed no cognitive impairment at the start.
Researchers tracked changes in brain white matter, often affected in vascular dementia. They also monitored amyloid beta and tau levels, proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Most modifiable risks examined were tied to blood vessel damage and faster white matter alteration. They found potential links between risk factors and Alzheimer’s proteins. Diabetes correlated with faster amyloid beta buildup. A lower body mass index linked with quicker tau accumulation.
Authors emphasized that these findings need further validation. However, addressing lifestyle risks could help prevent multiple brain damage types.
Sebastian Palmqvist, study author and senior lecturer in neurology at Lund University, highlighted prior research limitations. He stated many studies didn’t account for dementia’s distinct pathologies. “Focusing on vascular and metabolic risk factors can reduce several simultaneous brain changes,” he said.
An Empowering Outlook
Fixed factors like age, gender, and genetics remain major dementia risk contributors. Yet, lifestyle choices significantly influence long-term brain health before symptoms. Joanna LaFleur, a dementia care expert, discussed the research’s practical implications. “We can’t change our age or genetics, but we can influence brain health factors,” she said. “This is empowering as it reminds us we aren’t completely powerless.”
LaFleur expressed appreciation for the research, stating it reinforced long-held beliefs. “Your heart and brain are on the same team. High blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease also impact cerebral blood vessels,” she noted.
Researchers concluded that prioritizing vascular and metabolic health offers a path for prevention. This approach could reduce the likelihood of various brain damage forms advancing into clinical dementia.
Key Takeaways: Actionable Steps for Brain Health
- Manage Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: Keep cardiovascular metrics in check as they relate to brain vessel health.
- Quit Smoking: Avoid tobacco to protect cerebral blood vessels.
- Prioritize Physical Activity: Exercise regularly to combat cardiovascular and metabolic risks.
- Monitor Metabolic Health: Watch blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Address Hearing Loss and Lifestyle Factors: Manage secondary factors like hearing loss and adjust alcohol intake for long-term cognitive support.
Reference: Palmqvist, S., et al. (2026). Associations of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors with longitudinal white matter hyperintensities, amyloid-β and tau – a prospective cohort study. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100448.
Contact Newsweek editors: Kara Dolman and Anthony Murray.