We often think of dementia as something inevitable - an unavoidable outcome of aging. But recent findings suggest that’s no longer the full picture. A growing body of research, highlighted in Medical Xpress and the Alzheimer’s Society UK, shows that up to 40% of dementia cases worldwide could be prevented or delayed by addressing specific, modifiable risk factors.
These insights mark a major shift in how we understand dementia - not just as a condition to be managed, but as one that may in many cases be postponed or even prevented.
The 12 Risk Factors That Influence Dementia
Based on the groundbreaking Lancet Commission’s work, experts have identified 12 major risk factors that significantly impact dementia risk over the life course:
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Low educational attainment
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Hearing loss
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Traumatic brain injury
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Hypertension
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Alcohol misuse
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Obesity
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Smoking
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Depression
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Social isolation
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Physical inactivity
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Air pollution
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Diabetes
Most of these risks are modifiable - meaning they can be addressed or managed through lifestyle changes, early intervention, or public health efforts. Tackling them doesn’t guarantee prevention, but it can significantly reduce an individual’s risk or delay the onset of symptoms by several years.
What Prevention Looks Like in Practice
The Alzheimer’s Society offers a practical roadmap to reducing dementia risk, encouraging people of all ages to embrace these changes:
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Be physically active: Exercise helps maintain blood flow to the brain and reduces inflammation.
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Eat a balanced diet: Focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats (like those found in the Mediterranean diet).
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Stay mentally and socially active: Lifelong learning, conversation, and community involvement stimulate the brain and reduce isolation.
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Protect your hearing: Untreated hearing loss in midlife has been strongly linked to later-life dementia.
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Sleep well: Poor sleep, especially in midlife, is associated with increased dementia risk.
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Avoid smoking and limit alcohol: Both have damaging effects on brain and cardiovascular health.
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Manage chronic health conditions: Diabetes, hypertension, and depression all play a role in cognitive decline.
This holistic approach to brain health emphasizes that dementia isn’t just about aging - it’s about health across the entire lifespan
A Population-Level Opportunity
From a public health perspective, these findings are revolutionary. If governments and communities can prioritize education, clean air, safe spaces for exercise, and equitable access to healthcare, the global burden of dementia could be drastically reduced.
This prevention-first approach is especially important in low - and middle-income countries, where resources for diagnosis and care are limited, but risk factors are often widespread.
While not everyone has equal access to prevention tools, the key message is clear: even small changes, made early, can make a big difference.
Avoiding Stigma Around Prevention
There’s also an important nuance in this conversation. As the World Alzheimer Report 2024 and many experts note, it’s vital that prevention messaging doesn’t shift blame to individuals who develop dementia. Not everyone can modify their risk factors due to socioeconomic or health constraints. Prevention should be framed around empowerment - not guilt.
How Elli Cares Supports Preventative Action
At Elli Cares, we believe in making prevention and proactive care feel achievable and accessible - whether someone is already experiencing early cognitive change or simply wants to stay sharp.
Our mobile app offers:
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Reminders for medications, hydration, and daily tasks
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Encouragement to stay active and connected
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Location-based safety tools like Safe Zones
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Wellness tracking to support early intervention
By helping users maintain structure, independence, and connection, Elli Cares contributes to many of the same areas shown to protect brain health. It’s not a cure - but it’s part of the solution.
👉 Read the full Medical Xpress article
👉 Read the full Alzheimer’s Society guide
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