New Study Pinpoints Alcohol, Diabetes, and Smog as Top Dementia Risk Factors

Oxford University research highlights three modifiable risk factors for dementia, offering potential avenues for prevention.

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.