14 risk factors to tackle to delay or avoid dementia

(Kristen Rogers/ CTV News) — More than 55 million people worldwide have dementia, a number that’s expected to nearly triple by 2050. But addressing 14 risk factors over the course of one’s life — starting in childhood — could prevent or delay nearly half of cases, according to a large report by 27 dementia experts.

Based on reviews of the latest evidence, the Wednesday report by The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care adds two risk factors — high cholesterol and vision loss — to 12 others previously identified in its 2020 report. Those existing risk factors are less education, head injury, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hearing loss, depression, air pollution and infrequent social contact.

The research team wanted to compile and “add to evidence to give individuals and government accessible, reliable information and to help set a research agenda by highlighting what we don’t know,” said the report’s lead author Dr. Gill Livingston via email. “The progress in preventing and treating dementia is accelerating.” (…)