Oluwatobi Adu 
GENEVA, Switzerland – Nearly half of all dementia cases could be prevented or delayed through healthier lifestyles and better management of chronic diseases, according to new WHO dementia prevention guidelines released on Tuesday.
The World Health Organization says up to 45 per cent of dementia cases are linked to modifiable risk factors and urges governments to strengthen prevention strategies across all stages of life.
The updated recommendations reflect new scientific evidence since the agency first issued dementia risk reduction guidelines in 2019.
“We know more today than ever before about what drives dementia risk, and these guidelines translate that knowledge into action,” says WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Countries now have clear, evidence-based recommendations they can put into practice immediately to protect people’s cognitive health.”
According to WHO, more than 57 million people worldwide are living with dementia, while nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed annually.
The organisation says Alzheimer’s disease accounts for approximately 60 to 70 per cent of dementia cases.
Although there is no cure, WHO says addressing modifiable risk factors—including tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, social isolation, air pollution, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol—could significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia.
The WHO dementia prevention guidelines encourage adults with normal cognitive function or mild cognitive impairment to engage in regular physical activity, cognitive training, healthy diets, smoking cessation, reduced alcohol consumption and social participation.
The organisation also recommends improved management of cardiometabolic diseases and suggests that hearing aids may form part of dementia risk reduction strategies where appropriate.
For the first time, WHO includes reducing exposure to air pollution among its recommendations.
About the Author
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Korede Abdullah 