Research identifies midlife health factors linked to delayed dementia onset

New research suggests that staying healthy in middle age can protect the brain later in life. Scientists looked at data from more than 12,000 people aged 45 to 65. They found that avoiding high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking was linked to over 12 extra years without dementia symptoms. A separate review of more than 600 studies found that high blood sugar was the strongest risk factor for dementia. Researchers have also noticed a change over the past decade. Obesity, lack of exercise, and low education are now among the biggest risks. More than one in three cases of Alzheimer's disease in the United States may be connected to risk factors that people can actually change.