We’re not as helpless against dementia as we think

Key Points:

• Dementia cases in the US are projected to double by 2060 due to population aging, but age-specific dementia rates have been declining by about 13% per decade in wealthy countries since the 1980s, largely due to better cardiovascular health and higher education levels.
• Up to 45% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 risk factors in midlife, including managing blood pressure and cholesterol, avoiding smoking, staying physically active, and limiting alcohol consumption.
• Emerging studies suggest the shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of dementia, with vaccinated older adults showing lower incidence and slower disease progression, though the evidence is not yet conclusive and the vaccine is currently recommended only for those aged 50 and older.
• The potential protective effect of the shingles vaccine may stem from boosting the immune system rather than directly preventing shingles, as similar benefits were observed with other vaccines sharing the same immune-boosting adjuvant.
• While no drug currently reverses dementia, adopting healthy lifestyle habits that support cardiovascular and brain health offers the best chance to delay or prevent dementia, especially when started in midlife.