Study Reveals 14 Common Factors Linked to Dementia Risk
WHO:
Space Daily - Gill Livingston, professor at University College London and chair of the commission; Cleusa Ferri, of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo and a commission author; Dr. Josef Coresh, founding director of the Optimal Aging Institute at NYU Langone Health.
LiveNOW from FOX - 12,409 participants in the study, including Black and white participants.
WHAT:
Space Daily - The 2024 Lancet Commission report found that high LDL cholesterol in midlife accounts for an estimated 7% of dementia cases, while untreated vision loss in later life adds another 2%.
LiveNOW from FOX - The study published in the journal Neurology Open Access found that participants with no risk factors lived nearly 13 years longer without dementia than those with high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.
Space Daily - The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention identified 14 factors linked to nearly 45% of future dementia cases.
Space Daily - The commission added two new factors: high LDL cholesterol in midlife and untreated vision loss in later life.
LiveNOW from FOX - The study found that managing blood pressure, avoiding diabetes, and not smoking from age 48-68 could delay dementia by up to 13 years.
LiveNOW from FOX - 3,008 participants developed dementia during the study, and 5,238 people died without developing dementia.
WHERE:
LiveNOW from FOX - The study was conducted at NYU Langone Health.
WHEN:
Space Daily - The 2024 Lancet Commission report is based on evidence reviewed up to that year.
LiveNOW from FOX - The study followed participants for roughly 26 years.
WHY:
LiveNOW from FOX - Dr. Josef Coresh stated, "Our findings argue that people need to actively avert these factors in midlife as a strategy for preserving brain health for more than a decade."
Space Daily - The commission argues that many dementia cases are not inevitable and can be influenced by addressing the identified factors.
LiveNOW from FOX - Dr. Coresh stated that discovering new ways to delay dementia is crucial, as 42% of Americans are at risk for developing the condition after age 55.
HOW:
Space Daily - The commission categorized the 14 factors into clusters, including sensory, cardiovascular/metabolic, lifestyle, psychosocial, and environmental factors.
Space Daily - The commission categorized the 14 factors into clusters: sensory (hearing loss, untreated vision loss), cardiovascular/metabolic (high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, diabetes, obesity), lifestyle (smoking, excessive alcohol use, physical inactivity), psychosocial (lower education, depression, social isolation), and environmental (traumatic brain injury, air pollution).
LiveNOW from FOX - The study assessed participants for high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, then tracked their health outcomes over time.
(UPDATED August 9, 2026 12:01 UTC)
A new report from the 2024 Lancet Commission reveals that high LDL cholesterol in midlife is responsible for an estimated 7% of dementia cases, while untreated vision loss in later life contributes another 2%. Additionally, a study published in the journal Neurology Open Access found that participants without risk factors lived nearly 13 years longer without dementia compared to those with high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking. Dr. Josef Coresh emphasized the importance of addressing these risk factors in midlife to help preserve brain health for over a decade.
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(UPDATED August 9, 2026 10:07 UTC)
A new report from the 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention has identified 14 factors linked to nearly 45% of future dementia cases, with researchers highlighting the importance of managing blood pressure, avoiding diabetes, and not smoking from ages 48 to 68, which could delay dementia by up to 13 years. The commission, led by experts including Gill Livingston from University College London and Dr. Josef Coresh from NYU Langone Health, also added high LDL cholesterol in midlife and untreated vision loss in later life as new risk factors. With the study involving over 12,000 participants and tracking health outcomes for roughly 26 years, the findings emphasize that many dementia cases are not inevitable and can be influenced by addressing these identified factors.