These Healthy Lifestyle Factors May Help Reduce Early Dementia Risk, New Study Shows

As you age, your brain health may be top of mind—literally and figuratively. There’s a ton of research that supports how taking care of your body means taking care of your brain, as health conditions like low bone density, type 2 diabetes and heart disease can all contribute to cognitive decline. And most recently, the science is showing how certain lifestyle changes can also support your brain health.

One new study shows that lifestyle factors are associated with young-onset dementia risk. Here’s what the research suggests.

What the Study Found

The study was published in JAMA Neurology on December 26, 2023, and included 356,052 U.K.-based participants under the age of 65 with no dementia diagnosis. The research study examined each participant over the course of 15 years and detected predicted dementia risk factors from systematic reviews. Each person’s lifestyle habits were evaluated, and their risk for dementia was observed through their way of living.

Through this study, lifestyle factors like physical activity, limited alcohol use, healthy diet, cognitive activity and social involvement were associated with reduced risk of young-onset dementia. On the flip side, alcohol use disorder, smoking, social isolation and vitamin D deficiency could all contribute to early dementia risk. A key point to consider is that most of the 15 factors identified in this study that may impact one’s dementia risk can be controlled.

While more research needs to be done to say these lifestyle factors will for certain increase or decrease your risk, this study is a stepping stone for understanding how our everyday habits directly affect our brains over time. 

The Bottom Line

There are several factors that are hard or even impossible to control when regarding dementia risk, including genetics and socioeconomic status, but following a healthy eating pattern and lifestyle can help support your brain health. Check out this roundup of 30-minute brain-healthy dinners that focus on brain-healthy nutritious ingredients like walnuts, fish, beans and dark leafy green vegetables.