Avoiding These 3 Things in Midlife Is Linked to 13 More Dementia-Free Years

It’s not always possible to prevent or delay dementia. But experts are learning more about certain risk factors that may increase a person’s chances of developing the condition. A new study published Aug. 5 in Neurology Open Access, found that three factors are linked to living many more years without dementia: having normal blood pressure, being diabetes-free, and not smoking. When people in middle age and older—from ages 45 to 65—met all three conditions, they lived about 13 years longer than smokers who had high blood pressure and diabetes.Dementia is a serious global health concern. It affects more than 57 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and is the seventh leading cause of death. In the U.S., 42% of Americans are at risk of developing dementia after age 55, a 2025 study found.The condition “dramatically affects people's quality of life,” says Dr. Josef Coresh, founding director of the Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Langone and a senior investigator on the new study. “We’ve also come to appreciate that a lot of dementia is preventable, and a lot of the prevention potential relates to vascular risk factors.”Health and behavior across the enti...