Preventing dementia may begin decades before old age, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has unveiled its first major update to global dementia prevention guidelines since 2019. The revised recommendations underscore growing scientific evidence that healthier lifestyles, better management of chronic diseases and improved access to healthcare could help reduce the number of people who develop the condition.
The updated document, Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia, compiles years of international research to provide clinicians, policymakers and public health officials with evidence-based strategies aimed at slowing the global rise in dementia cases.
According to the WHO, more than 57 million people are currently living with dementia worldwide, while nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed every year. Beyond its human toll, dementia also places a significant economic burden on countries, with the condition estimated to cost the global economy more than US$1.3 trillion annually.
In Australia alone, close to 500,000 people are living with dementia, and projections indicate that figure could surpass one million in the coming decades if stronger preventive measures are not implemented.
A key finding in the updated guidance is that up to half of future dementia cases may be preventable by addressing common risk factors linked to chronic diseases and ensuring people have equitable access to preventive healthcare, quality education and healthier living environments.
Professor Kaarin Anstey, Director of the UNSW Ageing Futures Institute and Senior Principal Research Scientist at Neuroscience Research Australia, served as the only Australian member of the WHO Guideline Development Group.
Describing the significance of the revised recommendations, Professor Anstey said they represent years of rigorous scientific evaluation.
“These guidelines are the culmination of a systematic and wide-ranging review of the evidence we now have about the efficacy of a range of interventions that can reduce dementia risk,” Professor Anstey said.
She added that the recommendations provide practical steps that individuals and governments can take to protect brain health.
“These recommendations offer real-life actions that will reduce dementia risk and promote brain health.
“They’re both practical and evidence-based but require the buy-in of governments and public health systems to be truly effective.”
Professor Anstey also stressed that protecting brain health should not be viewed as something that begins later in life but as a lifelong commitment.
“We need to underline the message that many cases of dementia may be prevented, and these guidelines are a vital step forward in reinforcing that,” she said.
“Brain health is something we need to consider as a lifelong commitment.”
Among the new recommendations, the WHO advises that cognitive training and mentally stimulating activities may benefit older adults with normal cognitive function as well as those experiencing mild cognitive impairment. The organization also encourages maintaining strong social relationships and participating in community activities, noting that social engagement plays an important role in healthy ageing and cognitive wellbeing.
The updated guidance continues to reinforce long-established measures for reducing dementia risk. These include regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco use, limiting alcohol consumption, and effectively managing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, all of which have been linked to cognitive decline.
At the same time, the WHO concluded that current scientific evidence remains insufficient to recommend vitamin supplements as a strategy for preventing dementia.
Although there is still no cure for dementia, the organization says the latest evidence highlights that many people can take meaningful steps to lower their risk. By adopting healthier habits, remaining mentally and socially active, and managing chronic health conditions throughout life, individuals may improve their chances of maintaining better brain health as they age.
The updated guidelines also reinforce the growing consensus among researchers that dementia prevention is not solely an individual responsibility but one that requires sustained investment in public health systems, policies that promote healthy living, and equitable access to healthcare services across communities.