Eye‑catching study from the US: These 3 habits can postpone dementia by 13 years.

A comprehensive study conducted in the United States has shown that health status and lifestyle habits in middle age can significantly influence the risk of dementia later in life. According to the research, avoiding high blood pressure and diabetes and staying away from tobacco use can extend the period before dementia develops by years.

In an international study that also included researchers from New York University (NYU), more than 12,000 participants who were 55 years old and free of dementia were followed for about 25 years.

Researchers examined the long‑term impact of modifiable risk factors—high blood pressure, diabetes, and tobacco use—on brain health.

13‑Year Difference in Dementia‑Free Life

According to the study’s findings, people aged 45 to 65 who had neither high blood pressure nor diabetes and who did not use tobacco lived, on average, 13 years longer without developing dementia than those who carried these risk factors.

The findings suggest that reducing controllable health risks in middle age could help preserve cognitive health in later years.

Half of the Cases Can Be Delayed

According to the World Health Organization, more than 57 million people worldwide live with dementia. It is said that about 10 million new dementia cases arise each year.

Professor Sarah Harper of Oxford University stated that nearly half of dementia cases could theoretically be prevented or delayed by managing risk factors that can be controlled throughout life.

Expert Warning: Middle Age

Dr. Josef Coresh, a researcher on the study, pointed out that the risk of dementia rises markedly after age 55. Coresh said that keeping risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes under control during middle age could play an important role in preserving brain health for longer.

Experts recommend, in addition to controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, avoiding tobacco use. They emphasize that making balanced nutrition and regular physical activity part of life from middle age onward is important for brain health.

The study shows that dementia risk is not a problem that only arises in old age, and that measures taken in middle age can make a significant difference in cognitive health in later years.