Reducing your risk of dementia
Dementia information
Just as we can protect other areas of our health, we can take steps to keep our brains healthy and reduce our risk of developing dementia later in life.
Research has shown that our health in our 40s and 50s can have a particularly big effect on our dementia risk. However, it’s never too early or late to start thinking about our brain health.
But not all dementia is preventable, and some risk factors are outside our control. Dementia can affect anyone.
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In this section
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What is a risk factor?
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Risk factors outside our control
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Reducing your risk of dementia
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Risk factors we may be able to influence
For every 100 cases of dementia worldwide, almost half (45%) could be prevented or delayed if 14 health and lifestyle risk factors were completely eliminated.
The diagram below shows different factors that affect our dementia risk throughout our life.
We have more control over some of these factors than others. For example, we often can’t change how much air pollution we are exposed to. But we can do more physical activity and watch what we eat.
Some people may find adopting some of the suggestions on this page easier than others. But even making a couple of changes can go a long way to improve your health, and it’s likely you’ll be reducing your dementia risk too.
What's good for your heart is good for your brain.
That’s because the brain relies on a good blood supply to stay healthy. Taking steps to look after our heart can help lower our risk of cardiovascular diseases, and our risk of dementia too.
Melissa's mum was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer's disease, and Samantha's husband Edward was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy. Below, you can hear from Melissa and Samantha about the steps they've taken to look after their own brain health.
How to reduce the risk of dementia
While there's no sure-fire way to prevent dementia, the ways to help keep your brain healthy can be broken down into three groups:
Love your heart
Looking after your heart and blood vessels can support brain health and help reduce your risk of dementia.
Conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes are all linked to dementia risk because they can affect how well blood flows to the brain.
Taking steps to care for your heart is an important part of protecting your brain health.
Stay sharp
Keeping your brain active and supporting your mental wellbeing may help reduce your risk of dementia as you age.
Factors such as depression, head injury and lower cognitive stimulation have all been linked to changes in brain health.
Keep connected
Staying socially connected and engaged with others is an important part of maintaining brain health and reducing dementia risk.
Hearing loss, social isolation and vision problems can make it harder to stay connected and may increase risk over time.
Finding ways to stay involved with others and your community can help support both your wellbeing and your brain.
Research suggests that there may also be risk factors for dementia that are potentially controllable but are much harder for individuals to manage or control themselves.
NHS Health Checks
The NHS Health Check is a free check-up of your overall health offered to those living in England and some areas of Scotland.
The check aims to support you to reduce your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, stroke and dementia. If you are aged 40-74, and do not already have cardiovascular disease, you may be invited for a check-up every five years or you can request one from your doctors surgery or a participating pharmacy.
At an NHS Health Check, you will:
- be asked some simple questions about your health and family history.
- have your height and weight measured.
- have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked.
The results from your Health Check will be shared with you along with advice to help you stay healthy.
If you are outside the age range for an NHS Health Check, you can use the Heart Age tool on the NHS website for advice about looking after your health. If you are over 75 you should be invited for an annual health check, or you can request a one from your doctor.
If you live in an area not covered by the NHS health check and have concerns about your brain health or general health, you can talk to your doctor about how to address this.
Our research
Alzheimer's Research UK have invested more than £270 million in research since 1992. This includes studies looking into why some people develop dementia and others don't.
Research is the only way we'll find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat dementia and scientists need your help.(opens in new tab)
Without people volunteering to take part in research, finding a cure would be impossible. Find out more.
Downloads
Read more about dementia risk, including the factors that we may be able to influence.
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PDF, 6.14 MB, 21 pages
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This information was updated in July 2026 and is due for review in July 2028. It was written by Alzheimer's Research UK's Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you'd like a referenced copy.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
