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The numbers are alarming. More than 6.7 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or another form of dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By 2060, that total is expected to grow to about 14 million people.
There’s no surefire way to prevent dementia, nor can you alter your family history or stop growing older—two of the condition’s biggest risk factors. What you can do is change your lifestyle. Research suggests that your odds of dementia may be significantly influenced by certain habits, such as staying socially connected and taking care of your physical health, which includes avoiding tobacco and managing your cholesterol and blood pressure.
“There’s a lot you can do in terms of lifestyle modifications to improve brain health and decrease dementia risk,” says Elizabeth Morrison-Banks, MD, a neurologist in Riverside, California. Changing long-term patterns can be tough, though, and she acknowledges that patients need to “stay strong and positive” in their approach.
With that in mind, here are the habits linked to higher dementia risk, plus tips on adopting better behaviors for brain health.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Preventi... + 28
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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cigarette Smoking. September 17, 2024.
- The Guardian. Smoking Prevents Alzheimer’s? Depends Who You Ask. March 5, 2010.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical Activity Basics and Your Health. December 3, 2025.
- Stanford.edu. Use It or Lose It: Dancing Makes You Smarter, Longer. July 30, 2010.
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- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Social Connection. May 15, 2024.
- Harvard Health Publishing. What is Cognitive Reserve? December 16, 2025.
- Alzheimer’s Society (UK). Hearing loss and the risk of dementia. Accessed June 30, 2026.
- National Institute on Aging. What Do We Know About Diet and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease? November 20, 2023.
- Slomski A. Obesity Is Now the Top Modifiable Dementia Risk Factor in the US. JAMA. 2022;328(1):10.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your Brain and Diabetes. July 16, 2024.
- Steffens DC. Late-Life Depression and the Prodromes of Dementia. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 Jul 1;74(7):673-674.
- American Psychiatric Association. What is Depression? April 2024.
- Xu W, Tan C, et al. Sleep problems and risk of all-cause cognitive decline or dementia: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Cognitive Neurology. Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2020;91:236-244.
- Andrew E. Budson. Sleep well—and reduce your risk of dementia and death. Harvard Health Publishing. May 3, 2021.
- National Institute on Aging. High Blood Pressure May Lower or Raise Dementia Risk Among Older Adults Depending on Age. February 10, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Sleep. May 15, 2024.
- Alzheimer’s Association. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Accessed June 30, 2026.
- Sutin AR, Aschwanden D, Luchetti M, et al. Sense of Purpose in Life Is Associated with Lower Risk of Incident Dementia: A Meta-Analysis. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;83(1):249-258.
- Alzheimer’s Association. Tobacco and Alcohol and the Risk of Cognitive Decline and Dementia: Choices Make a Difference. Accessed on April 19, 2023.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Simple ways to keep your mind sharp. March 16, 2026.
- Clarke KM, Etemadmoghadam S, et al. The Nun Study: Insights from 30 years of aging and dementia research. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Feb;21(2):e14626.
