Overview

• Oxford University researchers identify alcohol intake, diabetes, and smog as the three most significant modifiable risk factors for developing dementia.
• The study, based on 40,000 brain scans, examined 161 risk factors, categorizing them into 15 broad categories including lifestyle and environmental factors.
• Alcohol consumption, type 2 diabetes, and exposure to traffic-related air pollution were found to have the greatest impact on brain regions vulnerable to dementia.
• The research suggests that making lifestyle changes, such as reducing alcohol intake and managing diabetes through diet and exercise, could mitigate dementia risk.
• Further research is needed to explore the causal relationships between these risk factors and dementia and to develop targeted prevention strategies.