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Dementia risk factors can be split into Lifestyle, Environment, Physical & Mental health
Preventing Dementia
There's 14 risk factors that you can avoid to minimise your risk
Dementia is not one thing
Take control of your future
They can be split into Lifestyle, Environment, Physical & Mental health
Habits we can change, health conditions we can avoid.
It's your actions in Mid-life that determines your future
Not only that, but they increase the chance of general cognitive decline, not just all-cause Dementia.
Smoking
Physical Inactivity
Excessive Alcohol
Less Education
Air Pollution
Obesity
Hypertension
Diabetes
Hearing Loss
High LDL Cholesterol
Vision Loss
Traumatic Brain Injury
Depression
Social Isolation
Genetics Matter,
Destiny vs. Risk
Genetic variation influences late onset Alzheimer's risk. The most influential being variants of the APOE gene.
High risk variants are an amplifier of risk, not a guarantee that you will develop Alzheimer's. How you live still has the greatest influence on your long-term brain health.
Inherited gene mutations however can cause rarer types of Dementia such as Early onset Alzheimer's and Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). These types often show up much earlier in life, so many people know from family history and are offered specialist genetic counselling and testing.
How do they cause damage?
None of these things may seem related to you, but aging, environment and health conditions all share ways that they cause damage to your brain.
Your body has natural systems to mitigate damage, but their effectiveness declines with age. These are the underlying systems that MINDer Protect 40+ is designed to support.
The brain depends on a constant flow of oxygen and nutrients delivered through tiny blood vessels, even at rest it's using 20% of all oxygen we have.
Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and raised cholesterol all damage blood vessels over time. This causes microinfarcts, white matter damage, and reduced blood flow, starving brain cells of energy and leading to small, cumulative losses in thinking and memory.
Protecting vascular health through blood pressure control, exercise, and balanced nutrition is one of the most powerful ways to preserve brain function as we age.
Energy production produces tiny by-products called free radicals. Normally, the body clears these away, but risk factors disrupt this system. The result is oxidative stress: a chemical imbalance that starts to damage cells, including neurons.
Chronic inflammation adds to the problem, keeping the body in a state of over-reaction.
In simple terms, it quietly wears down the brain’s structure and chemistry over time, making it more vulnerable to decline.
Cognitive reserve, the brain’s ability to adapt, rewire, and cope with damage is crucial to maintain. Physical inactivity, social withdrawal, and lack of mental challenge all erode this reserve, leaving the brain less flexible and more susceptible to decline.
In contrast, regular physical, social, and cognitive activity strengthens neuroplasticity, the process by which the brain forms new connections and maintains function even in the face of aging or disease.
Building reserve through an active, engaged lifestyle is one of the most effective long-term defences against cognitive decline.
Hearing loss, vision problems, social isolation, and lower education levels all limit the amount of sensory and mental input the brain receives.
The research shows that this reduces brain activity and connectivity, leading to shrinkage in regions responsible for processing sound, vision, and complex thought. When the brain isn’t stimulated, its networks weaken — just like a muscle that isn’t used.
Restoring stimulation, through social contact, learning, and sensory aids, helps maintain healthy neural pathways and slows cognitive decline.
Depression & Mood
Nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, and theanine contribute to normal psychological function and help support energy and focus — important for maintaining mental wellbeing as you age.
Cholesterol & Cardiovascular Health
Omega-3s, vitamin K2, and CoQ10 support normal heart and blood vessel function, helping to maintain circulation and energy production across the body.
Diabetes & Metabolic Health
Magnesium, resveratrol, and B vitamins support normal energy metabolism, helping the body use food for energy efficiently and maintain healthy blood sugar balance.
Hypertension & Circulation
Magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids contribute to the maintenance of normal blood pressure and vascular tone, supporting healthy circulation to the brain and body.
Physical Activity (Bones & Muscles)
Vitamin D3, K2, and magnesium help keep bones and muscles functioning normally — supporting confidence to stay active and mobile throughout life.
Vision
Vitamin C, vitamin E, and omega-3 contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress and support the maintenance of normal vision.
Supplements for optimal nutrition
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