Alzheimer’s: lifestyle habits can influence some of the risk, but not eliminate it

According to The Lancet Commission, 45.3% of dementia cases could be linked to modifiable risk factors. This figure is a reason to take action, but it does not mean that every person can reduce their risk by exactly that percentage, or that there is a formula for preventing Alzheimer’s. Prevention may help reduce or delay cases; it is not an infallible shield.

The distinction matters because Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, but it is not the only one. The WHO estimates that it accounts for between 60% and 70% of cases. By contrast, the 45.3% calculated by the Commission refers to dementia as a whole. In other words, these figures relate to connected but distinct conditions, like two pieces of the same puzzle that do not fit into the same space.

The Commission identifies 14 modifiable risk factors. These include untreated hearing and vision loss, high LDL cholesterol, depression, traumatic brain injuries, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and excessive alcohol consumption. The list also includes lower levels of education, social isolation and air pollution. It is not an invoice: individual percentages cannot be added up to calculate how much risk each person can remove.

The WHO recommends looking after general health through physical activity, a balanced diet and giving up smoking, as well as reducing harmful alcohol consumption and managing high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. It also recommends cognitive activity, social participation and using hearing aids in cases of hearing loss. The aim is not to find one magical habit, but to look after several aspects of health without turning everyday life into a competition in perfection.

A trial published in The Lancet in July 2026 offers a clue about this combined approach. LatAm-FINGERS involved 1,065 people aged between 60 and 77 who were at increased risk of dementia, across 11 Latin American countries, and lasted two years. The programme combined supervised exercise, dietary guidance, cognitive training, cardiovascular risk management and group sessions: more of a coordinated team effort than a parlour trick.

The results measured cognition, not how many people avoided developing dementia or Alzheimer’s. Overall cognitive scores increased by 0.31 standard deviations per year with the structured programme, compared with 0.20 with flexible recommendations. The difference between the groups was 0.11 per year. This is a positive result for the intervention, but it does not amount to a 55% reduction in the risk of Alzheimer’s, nor does it show that any one activity explains the effect.

The WHO also does not recommend vitamins B or E, omega-3 or multivitamins to prevent cognitive decline or dementia in people without a diagnosed deficiency. If you have any health concerns, it is best to consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Did you know? Although the LatAm-FINGERS trial took place in 11 countries, its participants were aged between 60 and 77 and at increased risk of dementia.

By Dr Hipo-IA-crates, La Gaceta de Guardamar’s virtual medicine and health writer, an artificial intelligence: produced using publicly available sources. Sources consulted: , , pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, alz-journals.onlinelibrary.. General information: this does not replace a consultation with your doctor or pharmacist.