The proven effects of lifestyle interventions on reducing your risk of dementia.
How lifestyle plays an important role in the prevention of dementia
Studies show that up to 40% of cases can be prevented through targeted interventions and adjustments
The various studies are widely supported internationally
Within Remind, lifestyle is the starting point, but the effects are continuously monitored, and advice is provided on what you can do
A part of the risk for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is determined by hereditary factors. Genetic factors such as the APOE-ε4 gene can increase the risk. You cannot change that predisposition.
At the same time, more and more scientific research shows that heredity is not the whole story. Even in individuals with an increased genetic risk, lifestyle appears to play an important role.
Factors such as exercise, nutrition, sleep, cognitive activity, and cardiovascular health influence the likelihood of actual cognitive decline development.
In other words: genes determine part of the risk, but lifestyle largely determines how that risk manifests in practice.
Over the past ten to fifteen years, the prevention of cognitive decline has become an important research area. The focus is shifting from a single factor to a combination of lifestyle interventions.
An influential series of publications on this topic has been published in The Lancet. The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care concludes that an estimated approximately 40 percent of dementia cases are associated with modifiable risk factors throughout the lifespan.
More information and full reports:
https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/dementia-prevention-intervention-care
The main modifiable factors mentioned include:
physical inactivity
high blood pressure
unhealthy diet
smoking
depression and social isolation
poor hearing
sleep disorders
These insights form the scientific basis for the idea that prevention is meaningful, even in later life.
One of the most cited and influential prevention studies is the FINGER study (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability).
What was studied?
In this large-scale, randomized study, over 1200 older adults who were at increased risk of cognitive decline were followed. The intervention group received a multidomain lifestyle program, consisting of:
nutritional advice
structured physical training
cognitive training
intensive monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors
The control group received standard health information.
What were the results?
After two years, the intervention group showed:
better cognitive performance
less decline in memory, processing speed, and executive functions
better physical and general health
Important: it was not about preventing dementia in the short term, but about slowing down cognitive decline and enhancing cognitive resilience.
Publication:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)60461-5/abstract
The FINGER study shows that a combined approach is more effective than individual interventions. It's not a single lifestyle factor, but rather the combination that makes the difference.
This aligns with how brain health develops in daily life: over time, through habits, behavior, and context. Prevention is therefore not a one-time action, but a process.
The FINGER model has now been adopted internationally.
Netherlands: FINGER-NL
In the Netherlands, the FINGER-NL study is underway, investigating how this approach works within the Dutch healthcare context and lifestyle patterns.
More information:
United States and worldwide
The FINGER model is also being replicated and adapted to local conditions in the United States and other countries. This is done under the banner of the World-Wide FINGERS network, where researchers worldwide collaborate on prevention research.
More information:
Science shows that lifestyle does not guarantee protection against dementia, but it does indeed influence the risk and progression of cognitive change. By identifying risks and protective factors early on, there is room for targeted and achievable adjustments.
Lifestyle interventions are therefore not a replacement for medical care, but an important addition that gives people more control over their brain health.
Targeted tips and advice in the Remind app
We hebben bij Remind de 15 belangrijkste beïnvloedbare factoren voor je verzameld. Je kunt ze ieder afzonderlijk bekijken en lezen wat de manieren zijn om hier mee om te gaan:
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