New research reveals that steering clear of three specific health risk factors during midlife could substantially extend the number of years lived free from dementia. According to a major US study, avoiding high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking between the ages of 45 and 65 could add well over a decade of dementia-free life.
Study Details and Key Findings
Researchers followed more than 12,000 people over an average of 26 years, starting when participants were around 55 years old. The team from NYU Langone Health found 3,008 people developed dementia and 5,238 people died without developing the condition. Those who had none of the risk factors lived without developing dementia nearly 13 years longer than those who had all three.
From age 55, participants with no diabetes, no high blood pressure, and who did not smoke had an average of 30.1 more years free of dementia. Meanwhile, those with one risk factor had an extra 26.3 years, those with two had 21 years, and those with three had just over 17 years, reports Jane Kirby for PA.
Implications for Brain Health
Previous studies have shown that lifestyle choices, particularly during middle age, can significantly lower the risk of developing dementia. These include taking regular exercise, not smoking, moderating alcohol consumption, and maintaining an active social life.
“Our findings argue that people need to actively avert these factors in midlife as a strategy for preserving brain health for more than a decade,” said Dr Josef Coresh, director of the Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Langone. The study also found that, no matter how many risk factors they had, women lived longer without dementia than men, and white people had more dementia-free years than black people.
Expert Reactions and Practical Advice
Reacting to the results, Dr Jacqui Hanley, from Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "Rather than focusing only on the chances of developing dementia, this study asks a question that matters to people: how long can we expect to live free from dementia?"
"This approach gives a meaningful picture of how midlife health may shape the number of years we spend living free from dementia, while also recognising that high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking are linked to a higher likelihood of dementia as well as a greater risk of dying earlier from other conditions." She said the findings emphasise why it's so important to look after your heart health as well as your brain health.
Dr Richard Oakley, from Alzheimer's Society, agreed, saying: "While no single action can guarantee that you won't get dementia, evidence shows that what's good for the heart is often good for the brain. Not smoking, keeping active and managing conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes are all important steps people can take to support their long-term brain health." Adopting these simple measures in midlife is one of the most effective ways to protect your mind for decades to come.
