The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that up to 45 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors, unveiling updated global guidelines aimed at helping countries reduce the growing burden of cognitive decline.
The new recommendations, released on July 15, provide governments, healthcare providers and policymakers with evidence-based interventions that can be implemented immediately to protect brain health across the life course.
“We know more today than ever before about what drives dementia risk, and these guidelines translate that knowledge into action,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
“Countries now have clear, evidence-based recommendations they can put into practice immediately to protect people’s cognitive health.”
According to the WHO, more than 57 million people worldwide are living with dementia, while nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed every year. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of all dementia cases. The organisation noted that, although there is currently no cure for dementia, nearly half of the risk is linked to preventable factors.
The updated guidelines identify several modifiable risk factors, including tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, social isolation, air pollution, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and hearing loss. The WHO also recommends maintaining a healthy diet, staying socially and cognitively active, managing cardiovascular health and reducing exposure to air pollution. Hearing aids should be offered where needed as part of dementia risk-reduction strategies.
Notably, the WHO has, for the first time, included air pollution among the environmental factors associated with an increased risk of dementia. The organisation also advised against the routine use of vitamin B and E supplements, omega-3 fatty acids and multivitamins for dementia prevention in people without a diagnosed deficiency, citing insufficient evidence of benefit.
The WHO said the revised guidance reflects significant advances in scientific evidence since its first dementia risk-reduction guidelines were issued in 2019. It urged countries to integrate brain health into broader public health strategies by strengthening services for non-communicable diseases and mental health.
Beyond its health impact, dementia carries a substantial economic cost. The WHO estimates that the condition costs the global economy about US$1.3 trillion annually, with around half of that amount attributed to unpaid care provided by family members and friends.
The agency said adopting healthier lifestyles and tackling known risk factors early in life could help millions of people live longer, healthier and more independent lives while easing the social and economic burden of dementia worldwide.
