A long-term study tracking more than 12,000 participants suggests that avoiding smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes in middle age can significantly extend the number of years lived free from dementia. Researchers followed 12,409 individuals aged 55 without dementia for nearly three decades, observing how the presence of these risk factors influenced the onset and duration of dementia-free life.
The study found that participants without any of the three risk factors lived an average of about 30.1 additional years without developing dementia. In contrast, those with one risk factor experienced roughly 26.3 dementia-free years, two risk factors corresponded with 21 years, and all three risk factors were associated with just 17 years free of dementia. This indicates that completely avoiding these risks could add approximately 13 more years of cognitive health.
Researchers emphasized the importance of managing heart health alongside brain health to delay or reduce the likelihood of dementia. Dr. Jacqui Hanley of Alzheimer’s Research UK highlighted that instead of focusing solely on dementia risk, understanding how long people can remain free from the condition is crucial. She encouraged maintaining a healthy lifestyle by staying physically active, avoiding smoking, and controlling blood pressure as effective measures.
The data originated from the New York University Langone Health Optimal Aging Institute, with Dr. Josef Coresh noting that actively addressing these risk factors during midlife could help preserve brain health for well over a decade. Additional findings from the study indicated demographic differences: women tended to live longer without dementia than men, and white participants had more dementia-free years compared to Black participants, regardless of risk factors.
Another aspect of the research suggested that adhering to these health goals could delay the onset of dementia for those who eventually develop it. According to Professor Ian Maidment from Aston University, individuals who maintained healthy blood pressure, avoided Type 2 diabetes, and did not smoke were diagnosed with dementia around age 86 on average, compared to age 73 for those who did not meet these targets.
Published in the journal Neurology, the study underscores the potential impact of midlife health interventions on extending the quality and length of life free from dementia, offering a clear public health message about the benefits of lifestyle choices for cognitive well-being.