Study Identifies Three Midlife Factors That May Delay Dementia by Nearly 13 Years

Maintaining normal blood pressure, avoiding diabetes, and not smoking between the ages of 45 and 65 may be associated with nearly 13 additional years of life without dementia, according to a new study by researchers at NYU Langone Health. The findings were published in Neurology Open Access.

The researchers analyzed data from 12,409 adults with an average age of 56 years who had no signs of dementia at the beginning of the study. Participants were followed for an average of 26 years, during which investigators assessed three major risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.

Over the course of the study, 3,008 participants developed dementia, while 5,238 died without being diagnosed with the condition.

People who had none of the three risk factors lived, on average, about 30 years without dementia after entering the study.

In contrast, participants with all three risk factors remained dementia-free for only about 17 years on average—a difference of nearly 13 years.

According to the researchers, the findings highlight the importance of preventing vascular risk factors during midlife to help preserve brain health later in life.

The study also revealed differences among demographic groups. On average, women lived longer without dementia than men, and among participants with the same number of risk factors, White participants experienced more dementia-free years than Black participants.

The authors emphasized that the study demonstrates an association, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship. They also noted an important limitation: participants' health status was assessed only once at the beginning of the study, meaning changes in blood pressure, smoking habits, or diabetes status over time were not taken into account.

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