Midlife health habits linked to 13 extra years without dementia

A long-term study published in the journal Neurology suggests that managing specific health factors during middle age can significantly delay the onset of dementia. Researchers from NYU Langone Health analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, following 12,409 adults for an average of 26 years.

The study focused on three primary risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking. The findings revealed a stark contrast in cognitive longevity: individuals who maintained none of these three risk factors remained dementia-free for an average of approximately 30 years. In contrast, those who possessed all three risk factors remained dementia-free for only about 17 years, representing a difference of nearly 13 years.

Additionally, the research noted demographic variations, observing that women tended to remain free from dementia longer than men, even when controlling for the number of risk factors present.