Midlife Vascular Health: 13 Extra Dementia-Free Years Linked to Avoiding Smoking, Diabetes, and Hypertension
A 26-year analysis of 12,409 U.S. adults found that avoiding high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking in midlife is associated with nearly 13 additional years of life without dementia. Those with no risk factors lived dementia-free for an average of 30.1 years, compared to 17.5 years for those with all three. While the study shows association rather than causation, it highlights midlife vascular management as a key strategy for delaying cognitive decline, with notable differences in outcomes by sex and race.