Researchers from NYU Langone Health have identified three health measures during midlife that correlate with extended dementia-free longevity, according to findings published in the medical journal Neurology. The analysis drew on data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, which has tracked Americans since 1986. The new investigation examined 12,409 people with an average age of 56 who had not yet developed dementia, assessing their status regarding high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and smoking habits. Over an average follow-up period of 26 years, 3,008 participants developed dementia while 5,238 died without developing the condition.
The results indicated substantial differences in dementia-free lifespan based on the number of risk factors present. Individuals with none of the three conditions had an average of 30.1 additional years free from dementia, compared to 26.3 years for those with one risk factor, 21 years for those with two factors, and just over 17 years for those with all three. Those free of all three risk factors lived approximately 13 years longer without dementia than those with all three factors.
The research also revealed disparities across demographic groups, with women living longer without dementia than men regardless of risk factor status, and white participants experiencing more dementia-free years than black participants. Senior investigator Dr. Josef Coresh emphasized the importance of addressing these factors during middle age, noting their role in preserving long-term brain health. The findings come as experts project that global dementia cases could nearly triple to 153 million by 2050, though previous research suggests nearly half of such cases could potentially be prevented or delayed through lifestyle modifications.
Dr. Jacqui Hanley from Alzheimer’s Research UK highlighted the significance of the study’s focus on dementia-free years rather than solely on disease incidence. She noted that the three identified factors also increase risks for earlier mortality from other health conditions, underscoring the importance of comprehensive cardiovascular and brain health management throughout midlife and beyond.
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