A new study suggests that managing key cardiovascular risk factors during midlife could significantly delay the onset of dementia and extend the number of years people live without cognitive impairment. Researchers found that adults who maintained normal blood pressure, avoided diabetes, and did not smoke lived nearly 13 more years without dementia than those with all three risk factors.
Published in Neurology Open Access, the study analyzed data from more than 12,400 participants in the long-running Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Participants were, on average, 56 years old and free of dementia at enrollment. Researchers followed them for approximately 26 years to examine how vascular health in midlife influenced both dementia risk and overall survival.
The findings highlight the strong connection between cardiovascular health and brain health. Participants with none of the three risk factors lived an average of 30 years without developing dementia, compared with about 17 years for those with high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking history. Each additional risk factor was associated with fewer years of dementia-free survival.
For the Duke/UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), these results reinforce a central message of dementia prevention research: maintaining vascular health throughout adulthood may be one of the most effective strategies for supporting cognitive health later in life. Researchers at Duke and UNC have long studied the links between heart health, aging, and dementia, including how conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and vascular disease contribute to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease risk.
The study’s findings align with ongoing ADRC efforts to identify modifiable risk factors for dementia and to develop strategies that promote healthy cognitive aging. Duke and UNC investigators are examining how lifestyle factors, cardiovascular health, genetics, and biomarkers interact to influence dementia risk across diverse populations. These efforts help inform prevention approaches that individuals can adopt long before symptoms appear.
The authors emphasize that while dementia cannot always be prevented, reducing vascular risk factors in midlife represents a meaningful opportunity to preserve brain health. As the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias continues to grow, studies like this provide further evidence that actions supporting heart health may also help protect the brain.
Why This Matters to the Duke/UNC ADRC
The Duke/UNC ADRC supports research aimed at understanding the biological, lifestyle, and environmental factors that influence dementia risk. Many ADRC investigators study modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, vascular disease, and other aspects of cardiovascular health that may affect cognitive aging. Findings such as these underscore the importance of ongoing research to identify practical strategies that can help individuals maintain brain health and independence as they age.
