TL;DR:

Dementia is most common after age 85, but your personal risk can be lowered. Thanks to better healthcare and education, the rate of new cases of dementia is going down. You can protect your brain by staying active, eating healthy, sleeping well, staying social, and managing health conditions like high blood pressure. Up to 40% of dementia cases may be preventable with healthy lifestyle choices.

Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is a serious condition that affects memory, thinking, and daily life. But new research is showing some good news: the chance of getting dementia at a certain age is going down. Here’s what you should know:

1. Dementia Is Most Common After Age 85

Today, dementia is most common in people over 85 years old. As we live longer, more people reach this age—so even if the rate of dementia is going down, the number of people with dementia is still growing.

2. The Risk of Getting Dementia Is Lower Than It Used to Be

Compared to 40 years ago, people today have a lower chance of getting dementia at a given age. That’s great news—it means we’re making progress in understanding and preventing it.

3. Education Makes a Difference

People with more education tend to have a lower risk of dementia. Learning keeps the brain active and builds what researchers call a “cognitive reserve,” which helps protect against memory loss later in life.

4. Healthy Habits Help Protect Your Brain

Certain daily habits can lower your risk of dementia. These include:

• Regular exercise (walking, swimming, dancing)
• Healthy eating (like the Mediterranean diet—lots of fruits, veggies, fish, and whole grains)
• Good sleep (7–9 hours a night)
• Staying social (spending time with friends and family)
• Keeping your brain active (reading, puzzles, learning new skills)
• Protecting your hearing (using hearing aids if needed)
• Managing health conditions (like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity)

5. Smoking and Inactivity Can Raise Your Risk

On the flip side, smoking, not exercising, and having untreated health problems like high blood pressure can increase your risk of dementia. Taking care of your body helps protect your brain, too.

6. More People Are Living Longer Than Ever Before

Thanks to better healthcare, more people are living into their 80s and 90s. Since age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, this means the total number of people with dementia is increasing—even though your personal risk might be going down.

7. We Can Prevent Many Cases of Dementia

Experts believe that up to 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by changing our lifestyle habits and managing health risks. That’s a big deal—small changes really can make a difference.