Midlife health management could unlock 12.6 extra dementia-free years

An ARIC study following over 12,400 participants for 26 years found that at age 55, people without diabetes, high blood pressure, or smoking could expect about 30.1 dementia-free years, compared with 17.5 years for those with all three risks—roughly 12.6 additional dementia-free years. The findings highlight that controlling diabetes, hypertension, and smoking in midlife, along with healthy lifestyles (exercise, sleep, diet, social engagement), may significantly preserve brain health decades later, though dementia prevention cannot be guaranteed.