The ability of individuals and populations to make healthier decisions can be enhanced by lowering their exposure to the modifiable risk factors (which can be started in childhood 23, 24.

An increased risk of dementia in later life has been linked to midlife hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. Changing one's lifestyle is the first step in treating hypertension. and the DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, effectively treats hypertension with an impact size akin to that of medication monotherapy.

Depression is linked to noradrenergic alterations and white matter lesions. Depression also highlights underlying deficits by lowering motivation and bringing about its own cognitive deficits. Depression arises from awareness of impairment at an early stage of decline 25.

In order to lower the risk of cognitive decline and/or dementia, the World Health Organization 26 conditionally suggests that older adults with normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment may be offered cognitive training. The Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) has produced consensus recommendations that indicate formal or informal educational activities, as well as other cognitively stimulating activities throughout life, are beneficial to adult brain health 27.

According to WHO guidelines, a Mediterranean diet may help and is safe to follow in lowering the risk of dementia or cognitive decline. A variant known as the Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) integrates the DASH diet—Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension—which has demonstrated efficacy in reducing hypertension, a risk factor associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities of certain nutrients that may be increased in the Mediterranean diet may shield the brain. Furthermore, better global cognition and episodic memory are linked to higher adherence among participants with normal cognitive abilities 30.

Enhancing fitness can improve cognitive functions, especially executive function, according to a meta-analysis of multiple aerobic exercise intervention studies 31.

For adults aged 18 to 64, the World Health Organization offers 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of energy intensity aerobic activity per week. Doubling the weekly duration of activity may also provide additional benefits. It is advised to engage in muscle-strengthening exercises two or more days per week.

According to studies, the brain's beta amyloid levels can rise after just one sleep-deprived night 32. Another study also demonstrated an increase of tau in both sleep-deprived humans and rodents. Furthermore, ISF/CSF tau levels were regulated by the sleep-wake cycle 33.

Participation in social activities is a significant indicator of lifelong well-being. On the other hand, it has been demonstrated that social disengagement increases the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment in older people 34. A meta-analysis and systematic review of 51 longitudinal cohort studies examining social isolation and cognition comprised 102035 participants who were at least 50 years old at the beginning and followed up for a period of 2–21 years 35.

It has been proposed that losing weight may improve a number of metabolic variables, such as glucose tolerance, that are connected to the aetiology of dementia and cognitive impairment, thus indirectly lowering the risk of dementia. Medication, behavioral interventions like exercise, food modification, and, if necessary, surgery, should all be part of the management plan.

Smoking doubles the risk of stroke in a dose-dependent manner, with a 12% increase in risk for every 5 extra cigarettes smoked each day. It affects the areas of the brain associated with memory, attention, and learning.

Even as you get older, quitting smoking lowers your risk. Among 50,000 men over 60, quitting smoking for more than four years, as opposed to continuing, significantly decreased the risk of dementia over the next eight years 36.

Acetaldehyde, which is produced when alcohol is metabolized, directly causes neurotoxicity in the brain. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome can be brought on by thiamine deficiency brought on by prolonged alcohol consumption 37. Severe consequence of alcoholism on cognitive functioning, referred to as “alcoholic Korsakoff’s syndrome.

A significant preventive factor against dementia and a crucial element of successful cognitive aging is educational attainment. In people with low or high educational attainment, more years of education were linked to a higher cognitive level and a slower rate of cognitive decline.

Preventing neurodegeneration, cognitive decline, and dementia is crucial because there are currently no treatments that modify the disease (or slow disease progression by targeting the underlying cause) for those with the condition.

There are four public health priorities for improving screening and diagnosis in secondary prevention 38:

The goal of neuropsychological evaluations is to determine the degree and character of a patient's cognitive and behavioral deficits.

Tertiary prevention strategies show the best results when initiated during the initial phases of Alzheimer's disease. Effective management of Alzheimer's disease necessitates clear communication among physicians, caregivers, and patients, as well as the use of behavioural techniques, caregiver assistance, and medication.

Caregiver support interventions play a crucial role in tertiary prevention due to the rising rates of Alzheimer