Wellbeing Note · 5 min read

Keeping the mind sharp: what actually lowers dementia risk

Up to 45% of dementia risk is linked to things that can change. The WHO's 2026 guidelines say what helps most: moving, not smoking, hearing aids, and staying social

The Pushpa team · 2 sources

Pushpa notes48

Walks

5 days

Satsang

with friends

Crossword

every morning

Hearing

check booked

Stay sharp

Every parent who forgets a name worries about dementia. The encouraging news: a lot of the risk can be shifted. The WHO's 2026 guidelines say up to 45% of dementia risk is attributed to 14 risk factors that can be changed, citing the 2024 Lancet Commission

45%

of dementia risk is attributed to 14 modifiable risk factors (WHO guidelines, 2nd edition, 2026)

What the evidence supports most

Physical activity: the WHO's strongest recommendation for adults whose thinking is normal
Stopping smoking, which the WHO says should be offered to everyone who smokes
Managing high blood pressure and diabetes
Hearing aids for hearing loss, newly recommended in the 2026 edition

Also worth doing

Staying social: satsang, a walking group, family calls. The WHO now says social activities may be recommended, though the evidence is weaker
Mentally stimulating activities like reading, puzzles, storytelling and games may be encouraged
Structured cognitive training may be offered

What doesn't help

The WHO does not recommend vitamin B, vitamin E, omega-3 or multivitamin supplements to prevent dementia, unless someone actually has a deficiency. Money is better spent on good walking shoes and a hearing test

How Pushpa helpsA daily conversation is its own kind of exercise for the mind. Pushpa talks with her every evening about her day, her walk and her friends, and keeps the family posted