Three midlife health factors linked to almost 13 more years without dementia

Maintaining healthy blood pressure, avoiding type 2 diabetes and not smoking during middle age could be associated with almost 13 additional years of life without dementia, new research suggests.

A major long-term study has highlighted the potentially significant role cardiovascular health during middle age could play in protecting the brain later in life.

Researchers analysed data from more than 12,400 people who were around 56 years old on average when their health was initially assessed and followed them for approximately 26 years.

The study focused on three vascular risk factors in midlife: high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and smoking.

During the follow-up period, more than 3,000 participants developed dementia.

Researchers found a substantial difference in the number of years people lived without dementia depending on how many of the three risk factors they had.

People with none of the risk factors at the beginning of the study experienced an average of around 30 additional years without dementia, compared with just over 17 years among those who had all three.

Those with one risk factor experienced around 26 dementia-free years, while people with two had approximately 21.

The difference between people with none of the risk factors and those with all three amounted to almost 13 years.

The findings add to growing evidence that cardiovascular health and brain health are closely connected, and that some of the factors associated with dementia risk may be modifiable decades before symptoms develop.

High blood pressure can damage blood vessels over time, while diabetes can affect circulation and vascular health. Smoking is also known to damage the cardiovascular system.

Because the brain relies on a healthy supply of blood and oxygen, vascular damage accumulated over many years is thought to contribute to cognitive decline and the development of some forms of dementia.

The researchers said the findings highlight middle age as an important period for addressing cardiovascular risk factors and potentially protecting long-term brain health.

However, the study does not suggest dementia can always be prevented. Dementia is a complex group of conditions influenced by ageing, genetics, underlying disease, environmental factors and lifestyle.

The research was observational, meaning it identified an association between the three risk factors and dementia-free life expectancy rather than proving that eliminating them would directly add a specific number of dementia-free years to an individual’s life.

Nevertheless, high blood pressure, smoking and type 2 diabetes are all factors that can potentially be prevented, treated or managed.

The findings suggest that measures already recommended to protect cardiovascular health, including not smoking, remaining physically active, eating a balanced diet and monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar may also play an important role in protecting brain health later in life.

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