The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated global guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, highlighting that up to 45% of dementia risk may be preventable or delayed through action on modifiable risk factors. These include tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, social isolation, air pollution, and chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. With more than 57 million people living with dementia worldwide, the guidelines aim to help countries integrate brain health into broader health promotion and disease prevention efforts.
The recommendations reflect the latest evidence on dementia risk reduction and emphasize healthy lifestyle behaviours across the life course. Key strategies include staying physically active, maintaining a healthy diet, reducing alcohol consumption, avoiding tobacco use, engaging in social and cognitive activities, and managing cardiometabolic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. The guidelines also introduce a new recommendation to reduce exposure to air pollution and note that hearing aids may support dementia risk reduction efforts.
WHO also advises against using vitamin B or E supplements, omega-3 fatty acids, or multivitamins specifically for dementia prevention in the absence of a diagnosed deficiency, citing insufficient evidence of benefit. The organization stresses that reducing dementia risk can help individuals maintain independence and quality of life while easing the significant social and economic burden associated with the condition.
Read the full WHO announcement and explore the updated dementia risk reduction guidelines on the WHO website.
