Researchers Reveal 2 New Dementia Risk Factors Everyone Should Know

Dementia risk is often discussed through familiar warnings: age, family history, smoking, blood pressure, diabetes, and inactivity. But researchers are now drawing attention to two additional factors that many people may not immediately connect to brain health: untreated vision loss and high LDL cholesterol.

The point is not to make people panic or treat dementia as fully preventable in every case. The stronger message is more practical: some risks can be noticed earlier, discussed with a doctor, and managed before they quietly affect long-term health. The 2024 Lancet Commission added these two factors to its dementia prevention model, estimating that around 45% of dementia cases could potentially be delayed or reduced by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors across life.