#These 12 factors could prevent almost half of dementia cases, study finds

Lifestyle changes could prevent close to half of all dementia cases.

Over the course of an individual’s lifetime, a handful of factors have a huge influence on the risk of dementia. In a report presented at this month’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, 28 world-leading dementia experts identified three new risk factors, including excessive alcohol intake, head injury and air pollution. These are in addition to the nine factors the commission identified in a 2017 report: less education early in life, mid-life hearing loss, hypertension, obesity, smoking, depression, social isolation, physical inactivity and diabetes later in life.

“We are learning that tactics to avoid dementia begin early and continue throughout life, so it’s never too early or too late to take action,” said commission member Lon Schneider, MD, in a press release.

Dementia currently affects roughly 50 million people across the globe, a number which is expected to triple by 2050, according to the report. Some countries, including the United States, have seen rates of the condition decrease in recent years, a trend thought to be due to lifestyle changes, said the report’s authors. They believe this to be evidence that there is a possibility that dementia rates can be reduced through preventative measures.

“Together the 12 modifiable risk factors account for around 40% of worldwide dementias, which consequently could theoretically be prevented or delayed,” they wrote. “The potential for prevention is high and might be higher in low-income and middle-income countries where more dementias occur.”

Schneider and his fellow commission members have a number of recommendations for interventions that policymakers and individuals alike should adopt to curb rates of the disease. These include not smoking, staying physically active, giving children a primary and secondary education, limiting alcohol intake, avoiding head injury, reducing exposure to air pollution and protecting ears to prevent hearing loss.