Protecting Your Brain Day to Day

The Lancet Commission’s 14 modifiable risk factors — what to act on at every life stage.

The 2024 Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention identified 14 modifiable risk factors. Together, they account for about 45% of all dementia cases worldwide. See: 2024 Lancet Commission.

Early life

• Less education (invest in learning)

Midlife

• Hearing loss (get it checked and treated)
• Head injuries (protect yourself)
• High blood pressure (manage it)
• Too much alcohol (moderate or eliminate)
• Obesity (maintain a healthy weight)
• Smoking (quit)
• Depression (treat it)
• Inactivity (move your body)
• Diabetes (prevent and manage)
• High LDL cholesterol (monitor and manage)

Later life

• Social isolation (stay connected)
• Air pollution (improve your air quality)
• Vision loss (get corrected)

Practical actions right now

• Protect your hearing and vision (get checkups, use protection when needed)
• Stay connected (regular calls, in-person time, communities)
• Keep learning (new languages, skills, hobbies)
• Take care of your heart (exercise, diet, stress management)
• Manage stress (meditation, therapy, hobbies)