The World Health Organisation has said nearly 45 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by tackling lifestyle and environmental risk factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and air pollution.

The global health body stated this on Wednesday as it released updated guidelines aimed at helping countries reduce the growing burden of dementia through early prevention and improved healthcare interventions.

According to the WHO, dementia is the seventh leading cause of death worldwide and a major contributor to disability and dependence among older adults. The condition, caused by diseases affecting the brain, impairs memory, thinking and the ability to carry out everyday activities.

The organisation said, “While there is no cure for dementia, up to 45 percent of the risks can be attributed to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol use, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including high blood pressure and diabetes.”

The WHO estimated that more than 57 million people are currently living with dementia globally, while almost 10 million new cases are diagnosed every year.

It also noted that Alzheimer’s disease remains the most common form of dementia, accounting for an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of all cases.

Commenting on the impact of the condition, the Director of the WHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, Devora Kestel, said dementia affects far more than patients alone.

“Behind these numbers are individuals, families, and communities navigating profound challenges that affect not only health, but dignity, independence, and well-being,” she said.

“This is not a distant issue; it touches all of us.”

The updated recommendations build on the WHO’s first dementia guidelines issued in 2019, reflecting new scientific evidence gathered over the past several years.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the revised guidance provides countries with practical steps to protect cognitive health.

“We know more today than ever before about what drives dementia risk, and these guidelines translate that knowledge into action,” Tedros said.

“Countries now have clear, evidence-based recommendations they can put into practice immediately to protect people’s cognitive health.”

The guidelines encourage cognitive stimulation and training for adults with mild cognitive impairment, while also recommending better management of conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol, which are known to increase dementia risk.

The WHO further called for stronger integration of services addressing noncommunicable diseases, mental health and brain health.

It added that preventing dementia could also ease its significant economic burden, noting that the condition costs the global economy an estimated $1.3 trillion each year, with about half of that amount representing unpaid care provided by relatives and friends.

“Understanding risk factors and taking action to prevent dementia can improve health and quality of life, helping people live longer, healthier and more independent lives,” the organisation said.

Dementia is not a normal part of ageing, although the risk increases with age, particularly after 65.

It is an umbrella term for conditions that progressively damage brain function, affecting memory, reasoning, behaviour and the ability to perform daily activities.

There is currently no cure, making prevention and early intervention critical to reducing its impact worldwide.

AFP