8 things you can do to cut your risk of dementia

Laura Hampson
A senior couple enjoying summer vacation by the sea, celebrating their wedding anniversary. Pensioners spending a romantic summer by the lake, exploring new places and traveling. Concept of traveling in retirement. dementia
Regular exercise can lessen your risk of dementia (Getty Images) (Halfpoint Images via Getty Images)

Dementia affects nearly 1 million people in the UK, with the latest projections estimating that this number could rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

However, a new major report has earmarked several health conditions that, if reduced or eliminated, could essentially halve the amount of dementia cases worldwide.

A previous study from 2020 found 12 risk factors that could lead to a dementia diagnosis, including obesity, smoking, depression, lack of physical activity, low level of education, high blood pressure, diabetes, excessive drinking, hearing problems, traumatic brain injury, air pollution, and social isolation.

This new review, published in The Lancet journal, has added vision loss and high cholesterol to this list.

The researchers said that the potential for prevention is high, in that some of these conditions can be prevented or reversed.

"Nearly half of dementias could theoretically be prevented by eliminating these 14 risk factors," the study said.

woman psychologist
Getting help with mental health could lessen your dementia risk. (Getty Images) (Westend61 via Getty Images)

In fact, the authors estimated that 45% of our risk of the disease can be changed by preventing or reversing these conditions.

"It’s never too early or too late to take action," lead author Prof Gill Livingston, from University College London, told the BBC.

“Governments must reduce risk inequalities by making healthy lifestyles as achievable as possible for everyone.”

The researchers have also provided a recommendations list for healthcare systems to use when looking to reduce the likelihood of dementia. This includes:

  • Ensuring hearing aids are accessible

  • Investing in good quality education

  • Emphasis on exercise and sports

  • Encourage people to stop smoking

  • Treating high cholesterol and blood pressure

  • Preventing obesity

  • Reducing problem drinking

  • Eyesight screening

  • Air pollution reduction

  • Ensuring people are not isolated or lonely

While there are some factors on the list that may be out of your control, such as hearing loss, a traumatic brain injury, and poor eyesight, there are others where you can take action in order to prevent the likelihood of dementia.

Quitting smoking can lessen your dementia risk. (Getty Images)
Quitting smoking can lessen your dementia risk. (Getty Images) (JGI/Tom Grill via Getty Images)

If you suffer from, or are affected by, social isolation, excessive drinking, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, many of these are modifiable lifestyle factors that you can speak to your GP or a qualified healthcare professional about.

There are also organisations that offer support for some of the conditions stated, such as mental health charity Mind, Alcohol Change, or the NHS Smokefree National Helpline on 0300 123 1044.

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