Experts have warned that 10 factors could increase your risk of dementia. A new report has highlighted some of the key things that can affect brain health.
Published by the American Heart Association (AHA), the statement listed 10 factors that can adversely impact the health of a person’s brain. These are:
As reported by Medical News Today, these factors can affect the body in several ways, in turn affecting brain health. In response to the findings, the team suggest that governments should enforce policies to help prevent some of these issues.
This includes controlling air pollution and improving air quality, and advocating for routine vaccination schedules to help people avoid infections that can damage brain health. Experts, not involved in the study, commented on the importance of the findings.
Speaking to Medical News Today, Dung Trinh from MemorialCare Medical Group and Chief Medical Officer of the Healthy Brain Clinic, said: “The main takeaway is that brain health is not determined only by age or genetics.
“It is shaped across the entire lifespan by a combination of physical health, mental health, sleep, lifestyle, social support, environment, and access to care. The American Heart Association statement is important because it reframes brain health as something we can influence much earlier and more broadly than we used to think.”
Melinda Patterson, an assistant professor of neurology with the University of Rochester Medicine, added: “Many of the habits we think of as ‘heart healthy’ turn out to be ‘brain healthy’ too. This statement reinforces that idea, while also highlighting factors that do not always get enough attention in research or in everyday clinical care.
“One of the most important messages is that brain health is shaped across our entire lives and not just in old age. Experiences and choices made early in life can have a real impact decades later. That also means there is good news: no matter what stage of life you are in, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of stroke and cognitive decline.”
Other research
These findings are supported by those from a groundbreaking report issued by The Lancet in 2024. This study found that around 45 per cent of all dementia cases could be prevented by making certain changes.
It also determined 14 risk factors for dementia. These were:
- Less education
- Hearing loss
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Depression
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Traumatic brain injury
- Air pollution
- Social isolation
- Untreated vision loss
- High cholesterol
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of dementia, you should speak to a GP.
