Avoiding three key factors in middle age may help prevent dementia for up to a decade, according to recent research. The study monitored 12,409 individuals aged 55 without dementia for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and smoking habits over an average of 26 years.
Results showed that individuals without these risk factors lived approximately 30.1 disease-free years, while those with one risk factor lived 26.3 years without disease. The number dropped to 21 years for individuals with two risk factors and just over 17 years for those with all three. Avoiding these risk factors completely could potentially add 13 more dementia-free years to one’s life.
Dr. Josef Coresh, together with a team from New York University’s Langone Health Optimal Aging Institute, emphasized the importance of actively avoiding these factors in midlife to preserve brain health for an extended period.
The study, published in Neurology, also highlighted gender and racial differences in dementia-free years. Women generally lived longer without dementia than men, and white individuals had more dementia-free years compared to black individuals, regardless of their risk factor profiles.
Dr. Jacqui Hanley from Alzheimer’s Research UK commented on the study’s significance, stating that focusing on midlife health can impact the number of years spent living without dementia. She emphasized the vital role of heart health in brain health, encouraging individuals to prioritize activities like physical exercise, quitting smoking, and managing conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
While there is no fail-safe method to prevent dementia, addressing cardiovascular risk factors can potentially lower the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, as indicated by this study and other research findings.