WHO Says Up to 45% of Dementia Risk Could Be Prevented or Delayed

GENEVA — Up to 45 per cent of dementia risk may be linked to factors that can be changed or managed, according to updated guidelines released by the World Health Organization.

The new recommendations are intended to help governments, health professionals and communities reduce the risk of cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia throughout a person's life.

More than 57 million people worldwide live with dementia, and nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form and is believed to account for approximately 60 to 70 per cent of cases.

WHO identified several modifiable risk factors, including tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, social isolation, air pollution, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

The updated guidelines recommend regular physical activity, a healthy diet, stopping tobacco use, limiting alcohol consumption, managing cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, maintaining social connections and taking part in mentally stimulating activities.

Cognitive training and continued social engagement may be beneficial for adults with normal cognition and for those experiencing mild cognitive impairment. Hearing aids may also form part of risk-reduction strategies where hearing loss is present.

For the first time, the WHO guidance places stronger emphasis on reducing exposure to air pollution. Research increasingly connects long-term exposure to polluted air with cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological damage.

The guidelines do not recommend routinely taking vitamin B, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids or multivitamin supplements specifically to prevent dementia where no nutritional deficiency has been diagnosed. WHO said there is insufficient evidence that the potential benefits outweigh possible harms in such circumstances.

Dementia affects memory, reasoning, communication, behaviour and a person's ability to carry out daily activities. It can reduce independence and place considerable pressure on relatives and carers.

WHO estimates that dementia costs the global economy approximately US$1.3 trillion annually. Around half of that cost is associated with unpaid care provided by relatives and friends.

There is currently no widely available cure for dementia. However, the new guidance emphasises that reducing risk should begin long before old age.

The recommendations do not guarantee that dementia will be prevented in every individual. Age, genetics and other non-modifiable factors remain important. Nevertheless, healthier lifestyles and better management of long-term medical conditions can improve general health while also helping to protect cognitive function.