The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that nearly 45 per cent of dementia cases worldwide could be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable lifestyle and environmental risk factors, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and air pollution.

The global health agency made this known on Wednesday while unveiling updated guidelines designed to help countries reduce the growing burden of dementia through preventive measures and improved healthcare interventions.

According to the WHO, dementia is the seventh leading cause of death globally and a major cause of disability and dependence among older adults. The condition affects memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to carry out everyday activities as a result of diseases that damage the brain.

The organisation said many dementia cases are linked to preventable risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution and non-communicable diseases, including hypertension and diabetes.

The WHO estimated that more than 57 million people are currently living with dementia worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases recorded every year. It added that Alzheimer’s disease remains the most common form of dementia, accounting for an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of all cases.

Director of the WHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, Devora Kestel, said the impact of dementia extends beyond those diagnosed with the condition, affecting families, caregivers and entire communities.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the revised guidelines reflect advances in scientific knowledge since the organisation first issued dementia prevention recommendations in 2019.

He noted that the updated guidance provides countries with practical, evidence-based measures to help protect cognitive health.

The recommendations encourage cognitive stimulation and training for adults with mild cognitive impairment, alongside improved management of conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, which are known to increase the risk of dementia.

The WHO also called for greater integration of services addressing non-communicable diseases, mental health and brain health as part of a broader strategy to reduce dementia cases.

The organisation further noted that dementia imposes an estimated $1.3 trillion annual cost on the global economy, with about half of that figure representing unpaid care provided by family members and friends.

While the risk of developing dementia increases with age, particularly after 65, the WHO stressed that the condition is not a normal part of ageing, emphasizing that prevention and early intervention remain essential in reducing its impact and helping people live longer, healthier and more independent lives.