Risk factors
Dementia information
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent MCI, there are steps we can take to look after our brain health and to reduce our risk of memory and thinking problems.
In this section:
What causes mild cognitive impairment?
Factors that may increase our chances of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) include:
These risk factors are also the same for the development of dementia.
Can mild cognitive impairment be prevented?
While there is no sure-fire way to prevent MCI, there are steps we can take to keep our brains as healthy as possible.
These can help reduce the risk of MCI and dementia too.
These include:
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staying mentally and socially active
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keeping blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels in check.
Downloads
Dementia information
Read more about treatments for dementia, including information on treating depression, anxiety and agitation and for information on antipsychotics.
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PDF, 1.25 MB, 13 pages
Find out more
You can find out more about current diagnosis and treatments for each type of dementia on the following pages:
Order health information
Alzheimer's Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
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This information was updated in November 2025 and is due to be reviewed in November 2027. 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 version with references or in a different format.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
