WHO: Up to 45% of dementia risk could be prevented or delayed
15 July 2026 News release
Extracts below and a comment from me. Full text: https://www.who.int/news/item/15-07-2026-new-who-guidelines--up-to-45--o...
The World Health Organization (WHO) today released updated guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, providing countries with evidence-based recommendations to help prevent or delay the onset of dementia across the life course.
Dementia is a condition caused by brain diseases and affects memory, thinking and the ability to function. More than 57 million people live with dementia worldwide and nearly 10 million people get newly diagnosed every year. Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia and is estimated to account for 60–70% of cases.
While there is no cure for dementia, up to 45% of the risks can be attributed to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol use, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including high blood pressure and diabetes. Beyond health, dementia affects a person’s independence, dignity and safety.
"We know more today than ever before about what drives dementia risk, and these guidelines translate that knowledge into action," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "Countries now have clear, evidence-based recommendations they can put into practice immediately to protect people's cognitive health."
WHO’s new guidelines... recommend several healthy behaviours and lifestyle interventions to reduce dementia risk, including cognitive training and cognitive stimulation and engagement in social activities for adults who have normal cognition or are experiencing mild cognitive impairment.
COMMENT (NPW): Such international guidelines from WHO are critical and are arguably the most important publication products of WHO. But we know that the publication of a WHO guideline is only one step in a much wider process. The text of the Guideline notes: 'Member States will be supported to adapt, use and implement the guidelines through a range of capacitybuilding activities. These include training of health care personnel, engagement with centres of excellence, and delivery of workshops and learning activities at regional, subregional and national levels. Web based platforms and in person training initiatives will be used to support sustainable implementation and integration into existing health systems.' The challenges are not peculiar to dementia. There are common knowledge translation challenges across every disease and health issue. HIFA looks forward to the possibility of running a Spotlight or full Project on this. www.hifa.org/spotlights www.hifa.org/projects
We are also ready to host a Spotlight/Project specifically on dementia.
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org