Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued updated guidelines aimed at reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The agency suggests that up to 45% of dementia cases may be preventable or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors throughout life. More than 57 million people worldwide currently live with dementia, and nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Alzheimer's disease represents an estimated 60 to 70 percent of these cases. While there is no cure, WHO reports that growing evidence shows risk factors can be mitigated through healthier lifestyles, chronic disease management, and reduced exposure to environmental hazards.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros, these guidelines translate the latest knowledge into actionable recommendations that countries can implement immediately to protect cognitive health. This update builds on the 2019 recommendations and incorporates new evidence on prevention across the lifespan.
The agency recommends regular physical activity, quitting tobacco use, reducing alcohol intake, and maintaining a healthy diet. There is additional emphasis on cognitive training, social engagement, and controlling conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Notably, WHO now advises reducing exposure to air pollution as part of dementia prevention strategies and suggests hearing aids may help reduce dementia risk in some individuals.
WHO warns against using vitamin B or E supplements, omega-3 fatty acids, or multivitamins solely for dementia prevention unless a deficiency is diagnosed, citing insufficient evidence demonstrating benefits that outweigh potential harms.
Dementia leads to memory loss and cognitive decline, impacting independence, dignity, and safety, and placing significant emotional and financial strains on families and caregivers. WHO estimates the global economic cost of dementia at approximately $1.3 trillion annually, with about half of this burden due to unpaid care by family members and friends.
The agency noted that integrating dementia prevention within services for noncommunicable diseases, mental health, and brain health could help lower the global burden of dementia, enabling more people to live longer, healthier, and more independent lives.