What If Fourteen Risk Factors Explained Nearly Half of All Dementia, and You Could Change Every One?

from The Habit Healers · host Laurie Marbas, MD, MBA

Nearly half of all dementia cases are linked to risk factors you can actually do something about, and most of them have nothing to do with your genes. In this episode of The Habit Healers Podcast, I break down the 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia identified by the 2024 Lancet Commission, and exactly what they mean for protecting your brain.I’m Dr. Laurie Marbas, a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, and I want to make dementia prevention feel doable instead of frightening. We’ll talk through why seven of these factors are metabolic or vascular, which means the same habits that steady your blood sugar, lower your LDL cholesterol, and protect your heart are quietly building a brain that resists Alzheimer’s disease. I’ll cover the everyday habits that move the needle most, from exercise and a plant-forward Mediterranean diet to sleep, social connection, and stress management. Then I’ll walk you through the appointments worth booking and the exact numbers to ask your doctor about, because the brain-protective target is often more aggressive than standard care. This is practical, science-forward brain health you can start using today.What you’ll learn in this episode:* Why 45 percent of dementia cases are tied to modifiable risk factors, and what that means for you* How exercise and a Mediterranean diet protect against cognitive decline* Why hearing loss and high LDL cholesterol are two of the biggest risk factors for dementia* The blood pressure, A1c, and cholesterol numbers to ask your doctor about for brain health* How sleep helps clear the proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease* Simple first steps to lower your dementia risk starting this weekDr. Marbas Substack Article: https://drlauriemarbas.substack.com/p/what-if-fourteen-risk-factors-explained?r=4t8jxgCheck out the Habit Healers Community: https://www.skool.com/habithealers/about Get full access to The Habit Healers at drlauriemarbas.substack.com/subscribe