Alzheimer’s disease is on track to affect nearly 14 million Americans by 2060, but experts say memory loss does not have to be an inevitable part of aging.
Writing in The American Journal of Medicine, researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine point to strong evidence that lifestyle habits can play a powerful role in protecting brain health.
Up to 45% of dementia risk may be tied to modifiable factors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, social isolation or conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. The authors argue that addressing these risk factors through preventive strategies could slow the rising burden of cognitive decline.
They highlight two landmark clinical trials: the Finnish FINGER study and the U.S.-based POINTER trial. Both showed that a structured, multidomain lifestyle approach, combining Mediterranean and DASH-style diets, regular physical activity, social and cognitive engagement, and ongoing support, led to measurable improvements in cognition among older adults at risk.
“The data from both these large-scale randomized trials demonstrate that lifestyle changes — previously shown to reduce heart disease and cancer — also hold transformative potential for brain health,” says Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., co-author of the commentary.
The authors note several mechanisms that may explain the benefits: exercise increases growth factors that support the hippocampus, healthy diets reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, quitting smoking helps preserve brain structure and social engagement fosters neuroplasticity.
Beyond individual health, the public health implications are substantial. Even small reductions in risk factors, a 10% to 20% decrease per decade, could reduce cases of dementia by up to 15%. With caregiving already costing families and society hundreds of billions of dollars each year, the researchers call for coordinated efforts from clinicians, public health leaders and policymakers to expand access to lifestyle-based brain health programs.
“Clinicians now have powerful, evidence-based tools to help their patients prevent or slow cognitive decline — tools that go beyond medications, are generally low-risk and are cost-effective,” says co-author Parvathi Perumareddi, D.O.
While medications for Alzheimer’s continue to carry high costs and limited benefits, the authors argue that lifestyle strategies are an underused but promising way to preserve memory, independence and quality of life as people age.