New Study Finds Avoiding 3 Health Risks in Midlife Could Delay Dementia by 13 Years

A 26-year study of 12,409 participants found that people who avoided high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking during ages 45–65 gained nearly 13 additional dementia-free years on average, with the largest benefit for women (18.1 years) and variation across racial groups highlighting disparities in cardiovascular care access.

This is an observational study; it shows association, not direct causation. The findings apply to people with the health conditions and genetic profiles studied.