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Nearly half of all dementia cases may be tied to modifiable risk factors, according to new research that details how lifestyle habits and chronic health conditions damage the brain over time.
The study, conducted by researchers at Sweden's Lund University, found that common health risks—including smoking, high blood pressure, heart disease and elevated blood lipids—are strongly associated with the specific brain damage characteristic of vascular dementia.
The findings suggest that managing these factors could help delay multiple forms of brain deterioration simultaneously, even in individuals exhibiting no initial signs of cognitive decline.
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Newsweek has reached out to the study’s authors for comment.
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What the Study Found
Because dementia encompasses a range of disorders with varying causes, risk factors often differ depending on the eventual diagnosis. To better understand how specific risks affect the two most common forms of the condition—Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia—the Lund University team tracked nearly 500 participants with an average age of 65 over a four-year period. None showed signs of cognitive impairment at the start of the study.
Researchers monitored changes in the brain's white matter, the nerve fibers frequently impacted in vascular dementia, alongside levels of amyloid beta and tau, two proteins closely linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Most of the modifiable risks examined were directly tied to blood vessel damage and a faster accumulation of white matter alterations. Researchers also observed potential links between specific risk factors and Alzheimer's-related proteins: diabetes was associated with accelerated amyloid beta buildup, while a lower body mass index correlated with quicker accumulation of tau.
The authors cautioned that these particular findings require further validation but emphasized that addressing lifestyle risks could help mitigate multiple types of brain damage concurrently.
Sebastian Palmqvist, study author and senior lecturer in neurology at Lund University, noted that prior research often failed to account for the distinct underlying pathologies of dementia.
"This means that we have had limited knowledge of how individual risk factors affect the underlying disease mechanisms in the brain," Palmqvist said in a statement. "Focusing on vascular and metabolic risk factors can still help reduce the combined effects of several brain changes that occur simultaneously."
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An Empowering Outlook
While fixed factors like age, gender and genetics remain primary contributors to dementia risk, the study adds to a growing body of evidence indicating that lifestyle choices—including smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, hearing loss and cardiovascular health—exert a measurable influence on long-term brain health before symptoms emerge.
Joanna LaFleur, a dementia care expert who spoke with Newsweek, underscored the practical implications of the research.
"This study is another reminder that while we can't change our age or our genetics, we can influence many of the things that affect brain health," she said. "That's empowering, not because it guarantees we won't develop dementia, but because it reminds us, we are not completely powerless."
LaFleur continued: "What I really appreciate about this research is that it highlights something we've been talking about in dementia education for years; your heart and your brain are on the same team. High blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease don't just affect your heart. They affect the tiny blood vessels that keep your brain healthy too."
The researchers concluded that prioritizing vascular and metabolic health offers a tangible pathway for prevention efforts, potentially blunting multiple forms of brain damage before they progress into clinical dementia.
Key Takeaways: Actionable Steps for Brain Health
- Manage Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: Keep cardiovascular metrics in check, as heart health is directly linked to the health of the tiny blood vessels in your brain.
- Quit Smoking: Eliminating tobacco use helps protect cerebral blood vessels from accelerated damage and deterioration.
- Prioritize Physical Activity: Regular movement helps combat cardiovascular and metabolic risks that contribute to vascular brain changes.
- Monitor Metabolic Health: Keep a close eye on blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy lifestyle to help mitigate risks associated with conditions like diabetes.
- Address Hearing Loss and Lifestyle Factors: Managing secondary factors like hearing loss and moderating alcohol intake can further support long-term cognitive wellness.
Reference
Palmqvist, S., et al. (2026). Associations of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors with longitudinal white matter hyperintensities, amyloid-β and tau - a prospective cohort study. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100448.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Kara Dolman and Anthony Murray.
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