WHO Updates Dementia Guidelines Focused on Clean Air, Cautious Supplements, and Hearing Health

The WHO released its first major revision of dementia prevention guidelines since 2019, urging action to reduce exposure to air pollution (notably PM2.5) to lower dementia risk, warning that non-deficient supplements such as vitamins B and E, omega-3s, or multivitamins are unlikely to prevent dementia and can carry risks, and highlighting hearing loss as a major modifiable risk with recommendations to improve access to hearing aids. The guidance also emphasizes cognitive training, social engagement, physical activity, a healthy diet, and managing chronic conditions, noting that eliminating pollution could prevent about 3% of dementia cases and addressing hearing loss could prevent about 7%.