Ways to Lower Your Dementia Risk

New studies add to evidence that we can greatly lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia

If you know someone with Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia, the conclusions of a new study suggest yet another reason you’ll want to keep an eye on them: “Older adults living with dementia have twice the risk of falling and three times the risk of incurring serious fall-related injuries, like fractures, compared to those without dementia.”

And, of course, what we might all hope for is to avoid dementia in the first place. So on that note…

Dementia is often thought to be an inevitable consequence of aging. Far from it. While some people are genetically at greater risk, and the disease occasionally strikes in middle age, most cases creep in after age 60, and even then, most people do not get diagnosable dementia at all. Meanwhile, there are things anyone can do to lower their risk. Because the gradual buildup of damage in the brain that leads to dementia can begin a decade before any notable symptoms show up, it’s never too soon to adopt mindsets and behaviors that promote good brain health.

The importance of social engagement

Being socially isolated is linked to a 28% higher risk of developing dementia, based on data on 5,022 adults followed for nine years, scientists reported Jan. 11 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The results held up even after factoring in demographics and health status.

“Social connections are increasingly understood as a critical factor for the health of individuals as they age,” said study team member Thomas Cudjoe, MD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Our study expands our understanding of the deleterious impact of social isolation on one’s risk for dementia over time.”

Another reason to treat hearing loss

In case you didn’t hear, hearing loss is common as we age. But it’s not just older people who struggle with it. As I’ve written previously:

More than 35 million Americans suffer mild to severe hearing loss. It affects about a third of people ages 65 and 74, and at least half of people over 75. But also, some 17% of U.S. teens show signs of noise-induced hearing loss, as do 19.2% of people ages 20–29. As the…