Dementia Risk Reduction
The modifiable factors associated with lower risk of developing dementia.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Leading modifiable factors: hearing loss, high blood pressure, smoking, inactivity, excess alcohol
- Hearing loss: associated with raised risk; hearing aids are recommended
- Most useful single change: Treat hearing loss; it is among the largest single modifiable factors.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming nothing can be done about dementia risk.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
A substantial share of dementia risk is attributed to factors that can be changed, most of them in mid-life.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Leading modifiable factors | hearing loss, high blood pressure, smoking, inactivity, excess alcohol |
| Hearing loss | associated with raised risk; hearing aids are recommended |
| Blood pressure in mid-life | a key target |
| Education and cognitive activity | associated with greater resilience |
What helps
- Treat hearing loss; it is among the largest single modifiable factors
- Control blood pressure from mid-life onward
- Stay physically and socially active
- Stop smoking and keep within alcohol guidelines
What to avoid
- Assuming nothing can be done about dementia risk
- Ignoring hearing loss because it feels cosmetic
- Social isolation, which is itself a risk factor
Where to go next
- Dementia Risk Reduction at a Glance
- Dementia Risk Reduction: What Published Guidance Supports
- The Evidence on Memory Problems, Without the Hype
- Stroke: What Published Guidance Supports
When to get help
See a GP for memory problems affecting daily life, difficulty finding words, getting lost in familiar places, or personality change. Memory problems have many treatable causes including depression, thyroid disease, B12 deficiency and medication effects. Seek urgent assessment for sudden confusion, which usually indicates infection or another acute illness.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Dementia: assessment, management and support
- Alzheimer's Society — reducing your risk
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.