Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJane KirbyThursday 06 August 2026 02:05 BSTDementia: the Silent Killer Affecting Half of Older AdultsNew research indicates that avoiding high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking between the ages of 45 and 65 could extend dementia-free life by nearly 13 years.The study, conducted by NYU Langone Health, tracked over 12,000 individuals for an average of 26 years, assessing these key midlife risk factors.From age 55, people with no risk factors lived an average of 30.1 more years free of dementia, compared to just over 17 years for those with all three.Senior investigator Dr Josef Coresh stressed the importance of actively averting these factors in midlife as a strategy for preserving brain health.Experts, including Dr Jacqui Hanley from Alzheimer’s Research UK, emphasised that managing cardiovascular risk factors is vital for both heart and brain health, potentially reducing the risk of cognitive decline.In fullThe three things you can do in middle age ‘to hold off dementia’, according to the expertsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in