Neurol. praxi. 2025;26(2):163-168 | DOI: 10.36290/neu.2025.040

Modifiable risk factors for dementia

RNDr. Mgr. Kateřina Veverová, Ph.D.1, 2, MUDr. Julie Martínková Nováková1, MUDr. Juraj Sečník, Ph.D.1, MUDr. Jakub Šteiner1, MUDr. Simona Karamazovová1, Mgr. Zuzana Chmátalová, Ph.D.3, MUDr. Ondřej Lerch, Ph.D.1
1 Neurologická klinika 2. lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy a Fakultní nemocnice v Motole, Praha
2 Katedra psychologie Filozofické fakulty Univerzity Karlovy, Praha
3 Ústav lékařské chemie a klinické biochemie 2. lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy a Fakultní nemocnice v Motole, Praha

The number of dementia cases is increasing globally. Currently, more than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, and according to the World Health Organization, this number is expected to more than double in the next 30 years. Dementia thus represents a significant global health challenge. The 2024 Lancet Commission report identified 14 modifiable risk factors, the elimination of which could potentially prevent up to 45 % of dementia cases. These key risk factors include low education, hearing loss, high LDL cholesterol, depression, traumatic brain injury, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, social isolation, air pollution, and untreated vision loss. The relevance of individual risk factors varies across the lifespan; however, early intervention can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia. The identification and targeted intervention of modifiable risk factors should be a priority in both individual clinical practice and public health strategies.

Keywords: cognitive impairment, dementia, modifiable risk factors, prevention.

Received: April 16, 2025; Revised: April 16, 2025; Accepted: April 22, 2025; Prepublished online: April 22, 2025; Published: May 5, 2025  Show citation

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Veverová K, Martínková Nováková J, Sečník J, Šteiner J, Karamazovová S, Chmátalová Z, Lerch O. Modifiable risk factors for dementia. Neurol. praxi. 2025;26(2):163-168. doi: 10.36290/neu.2025.040.
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