Dementia can be delayed by years: three factors that scientists advise to avoid

26.09.2026, 10:22◉ 02 min readEditorial team “SHCHO STALOSIA”

High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and smoking can all make a difference in how long a person lives without dementia. A long-term study of more than 12 thousand people showed a striking difference.

How to reduce the risk of dementia: scientists have named three important factors / © Getty Images.

Against the backdrop of the emergence of new blood tests capable of detecting biological changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, experts are paying attention to another way to reduce risks. These are factors that a person can at least partially influence throughout life.

Joseph Koresh's team at NYU Langone Health analyzed health data from more than 12,000 people followed for decades. At the beginning of the study, the average age of the participants was 56 years.

The researchers focused on three factors: high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and smoking. They can damage the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain, as well as promote inflammation.

People who were around the age of 50 had none of these three risk factors remained dementia-free for almost 13 years longer compared to those who had all three at the same time.

Context

According to Koresh, it is not necessary to wait until the increased pressure affects the blood vessels for years. The earlier it begins to be controlled, the longer it can help protect the vessels of the brain. Even delaying the development of hypertension or diabetes can be beneficial.

What's next

People who don't smoke, don't have high blood pressure, and don't have type 2 diabetes can stay dementia-free for almost 13 years longer. This was shown by a long-term study involving more than 12 thousand people.

In recent years, there has been another opportunity to assess changes associated with Alzheimer's disease — blood tests. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved four such tests for use in examining patients who already have memory problems.