Brain Health and Reducing Risk

New Zealand Dementia Foundation > Resource Hub > Brain Health
Dementia, Disability and Frailty in Later Life – Mid-Life Approaches To Delay or Prevent Onset 

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2015 (UK)

This guideline covers mid-life approaches to delay or prevent the onset of dementia, disability and frailty in later life. The guideline aims to increase the time people can be independent, healthy and active in later life. The guideline includes recommendations to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce the risk of, or delay the onset of, disability, dementia, and frailty by helping people to: stop smoking, be more active, reduce their alcohol consumption, improve their diet, and lose weight and, if necessary, maintain a healthy weight.

World Alzheimer Report 2014, Dementia and Risk Reduction 

Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2014 (UK)

This report critically examines the evidence for modifiable risk factors for dementia. It concludes that the strongest evidence for possible causal associations with dementia is that of low education in early life, hypertension in midlife, smoking and diabetes across the life course.

Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia

World Health Organisation, 2019 (Switz)

These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations on lifestyle behaviours and interventions to delay or prevent cognitive decline and dementia, including getting regular exercise, not smoking, avoiding harmful alcohol use, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, and managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. The guidelines provide a knowledge base for health-care providers to advise patients on how to help prevent cognitive decline and dementia. 

Physical Activity for Brain Health and Fighting Dementia

Dementia Australia, 2013 (Au)

This research review outlines how physical activity improves brain health and may increase hippocampal volume, which is essential for coordinating memory.

Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care 

The Lancet Commission, 2017, 2020 (UK)

An important life-course approach that accommodates exposure to nine specific risk factors across the life span is presented, and it is argued that ‘it is never too early and never too late’ to prevent dementia. The report also addresses significant developments in interventions that improve outcomes for people with dementia and their families and should be routinely offered. The 2020 Commission update on Dementia, prevention, intervention, and care identifies 3 new risk factors for dementia and outlines policies and lifestyle changes to support prevention.