Dementia risk factors and risk reduction

Last Updated: July 24, 2026

Beth Britton explores the risk factors for developing dementia and considers how you can reduce your risk

With the increased profile of dementia in the last few years, more people than ever before are aware of what dementia is and are often very fearful about themselves or a loved one developing it.

Some people believe that dementia is an inevitable part of ageing and that nothing can be done to prevent developing it, but recent evidence continues to challenge that view by highlighting modifiable dementia risk factors and the value of early risk reduction (The Lancet Commission, 2024). By doing this, Alzheimer’s Disease International hope that individuals may be empowered to take action to avoid developing dementia but also, if they are already living with dementia, to be aware of ongoing risk reduction so that they can live as well as possible.

Am I at risk of developing dementia?

Statistically, it is believed that around 900,000 people are living with dementia in the UK, with the number expected to rise in the coming years (Alzheimer’s Society facts page). In England and Wales, newer projections suggest the number of people living with dementia could rise to over 1.2 million by 2040 (Alzheimer’s Society news). Dementia remains a major and growing public health challenge in the UK (Alzheimer’s Society facts page).

In the UK, dementia was the leading cause of death in 2024 and has been the leading cause of death for women since 2011. But if this picture seems rather bleak, the antidote to that is the work that remains ongoing to understand the factors that are believed to contribute to developing dementia. Much like the research that’s gone into understanding more about heart health and different types of cancer, knowing the changes we can make to our lives to reduce our risk is something many people are interested in.

What do we know about the main risk factors for developing dementia?

Alzheimer’s Disease International have produced an excellent infographic detailing 14 dementia risk factors, which are:

Physical inactivity
Smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption
Air pollution
Head injury
Infrequent social contact
Less education
Obesity
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Diabetes
Depression
Hearing impairment
Vision loss
High LDL cholesterol

These risk factors reflect the updated 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care, which added untreated vision loss and high LDL cholesterol to the earlier list of 12 modifiable risk factors (The Lancet Commission abstract). The Commission says around 45% of dementia cases may be potentially preventable by addressing these 14 modifiable risk factors across the life course (The Lancet Commission).

How can I reduce my risk of developing dementia?

To reduce risk, it’s important to focus on modifiable risk factors, IE the things that we can influence in our lives to a greater or lesser extent.

When The Lancet first published their findings into risk factors for dementia it made headlines for identifying that hearing loss is considered to be the biggest modifiable risk factor for developing dementia. The latest evidence still recognises hearing loss as an important modifiable risk factor, but it now sits alongside untreated vision loss and high LDL cholesterol as part of the broader prevention picture (The Lancet Commission). The RNID have gone on to encourage people to take their online hearing test – which I’ve done and you can read about here – with the intention that if hearing loss can be identified and corrected early it can help with reducing a person’s risk of developing dementia. A hearing check can also be a useful prompt to think about other health issues that deserve follow-up.

Other risks that can be tackled include:

Getting support for smoking cessation/ and reducing alcohol consumption
Regularly checking your blood pressure
Following advice to avoid developing diabetes or managing existing diabetes as well as possible
Identifying and getting support with depression/
Finding ways to be more physically active
Tackling loneliness and isolation. This topic is expanded upon further in my Care Choices blogs, ‘Combatting loneliness amongst older people’ and ‘Getting connected – Digital skills for older people’.
and isolation
Getting your eyesight checked and managing vision loss early
Keeping cholesterol under review with your GP or practice nurse

These lifestyle measures align with WHO guidance on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia, which continues to recommend evidence-based action around physical activity, smoking, alcohol, blood pressure, blood sugar, healthy diet and related risk factors (WHO guidance).

How can this make a difference to me or my loved one if we already have dementia?

When dementia risk-reduction is talked about it often focuses solely on trying to avoid developing dementia. This historic approach has unfairly excluded people with dementia, so it’s refreshing to see ongoing risk reduction as part of the World Alzheimer’s Month focus.

Many people who’ve developed dementia will automatically take some of the risk-reduction steps – like those around the lifestyle factors of smoking, drinking, diet and exercise – to live as well as possible with their dementia. That can also include supporting hearing, vision, mobility, mood and general physical health, all of which may improve day-to-day wellbeing. It’s important to stress that all good health advice will likely help a person with dementia to have the best quality of life possible. However, we should also bear in mind that some people, when faced with a diagnosis of dementia, may wish to lead their life without any restrictions and individual choice and control remains paramount. A person may also struggle to participate in hearing tests, wear hearing aids, or manage conditions like diabetes or hypertension well.

For more tips and advice on living with dementia, read my Care Choices blogs:

‘Living with memory loss – Tips for managing day-to-day’

‘Living with dementia when you are under 65’

‘Supporting a person with dementia to walk’

What should I do if I’m concerned myself or a loved one may be developing dementia?

The first step is to speak to your GP. They will ask about your symptoms (you may want to complete the Alzheimer’s Society Symptoms Checklist before your appointment), conduct a basic memory test and order some blood tests. They may suggest a referral to a Memory Clinic and request a brain scan. My Care Choices blog ‘Speaking up about dementia’ provides more information about dementia assessments.

It may be worth asking your GP if the risk reduction advice above that’s applicable to you is something to begin now (if you haven’t already). This might include getting a hearing check, joining a weight loss programme, working on your physical fitness, seeing your diabetic nurse for a check-up or managing your depression better. If you are going for further tests at a Memory Clinic, talk to them about your hearing if you’re having problems with it as this can influence how you experience your appointment and the assessments the clinic staff conduct. You could also ask about eyesight checks and cholesterol management as part of a broader prevention conversation (The Lancet Commission).