Nearly half of all dementia cases might be linked to alterable risk factors. Research from Sweden’s Lund University highlights how lifestyle habits and chronic conditions can damage the brain over time. The study, led by researchers at Lund University, identifies risks like smoking, high blood pressure, heart disease, and high blood lipids as strongly associated with the brain damage seen in vascular dementia.
The findings indicate that controlling these factors may delay various brain deteriorations even in those without initial cognitive decline. Newsweek requested comments from the study’s authors.
Study Insights
Dementia includes various disorders with different causes. Risk factors vary by diagnosis. Lund University’s team aimed to understand risks affecting Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, the two most common forms. They followed nearly 500 participants, averaging 65 years old, for four years. None displayed cognitive issues at the start.
Researchers tracked brain white matter changes, often impacted in vascular dementia, along with amyloid beta and tau protein levels, linked to Alzheimer’s. Many modifiable risks directly related to blood vessel damage sped up white matter alterations.
There were observed links between specific risks and Alzheimer’s proteins: diabetes was linked to faster amyloid beta accumulation, and lower body mass related to increased tau buildup.
The authors noted these results need more validation, emphasizing that addressing lifestyle risks could help manage multiple brain damages.
Sebastian Palmqvist, a study author and neurology senior lecturer at Lund University, said past research often did not consider the different dementia pathologies.
“This limits our understanding of how individual risks impact underlying brain disease mechanisms,” Palmqvist stated. “Focusing on vascular and metabolic risks can still help reduce combined brain changes.”
Empowerment Through Lifestyle Choices
Fixed factors like age, gender, and genetics are main contributors to dementia risk. The study supports evidence showing lifestyle choices such as smoking, inactivity, alcohol use, hearing loss, and cardiovascular health impact brain health before symptoms start.
Joanna LaFleur, a dementia care expert interviewed by Newsweek, highlighted this research’s practical implications.
“This study reminds us that while we can’t change age or genetics, we can influence many things affecting brain health,” she said. “That’s empowering, as it shows we’re not entirely powerless.”
LaFleur appreciated the research for connecting heart and brain health. She emphasized that high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular issues affect both the heart and the brain’s tiny blood vessels.
Researchers concluded that prioritizing vascular and metabolic health could prevent multiple brain damages before they develop into clinical dementia.
Key Takeaways: Actionable Brain Health Steps
- Manage Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: Maintain cardiovascular health, as it’s linked to the brain’s blood vessels.
- Quit Smoking: Avoid tobacco to protect your brain’s blood vessels.
- Prioritize Physical Activity: Regular exercise helps tackle cardiovascular and metabolic risks affecting the brain.
- Monitor Metabolic Health: Check blood sugar levels and adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce diabetes-related risks.
- Address Hearing Loss and Lifestyle Factors: Manage hearing loss and moderate alcohol intake to support cognitive wellness.
Reference: Palmqvist, S., et al. (2026). Associations of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors with longitudinal white matter hyperintensities, amyloid-β and tau – a prospective cohort study. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. For more details, contact Newsweek editors Kara Dolman and Anthony Murray.