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Six risk factors, 43 per cent of the burden

Xavi Donobedian 1 min read

For Dementia Action Week: the six modifiable risk factors behind a large share of Australia's dementia burden, and where daily habits fit.

Two women in their sixties walking together on a tree-lined footpath

Dementia is Australia's leading cause of death. It can feel like something that simply happens to people.

The national data says a meaningful part of it is shaped by things we can change.

The number

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, as reported by Dementia Australia, attributes 43 per cent of Australia's dementia burden to six modifiable risk factors:

  • Being overweight or obese
  • Physical inactivity
  • High blood sugar
  • High blood pressure in midlife
  • Smoking
  • Impaired kidney function

That does not mean 43 per cent of cases are preventable by any one person. It means these factors carry a large share of the disease burden across the population.

Where the evidence for daily habits sits

Inactivity is the most direct lever. Regular aerobic training and strength work are the foundation of everything else in this series.

Blood pressure is where heat has its most interesting trial evidence. In an eight-week randomised trial, adding 15 minutes of sauna after exercise lowered systolic pressure by about 8 mmHg more than exercise alone. We covered that here.

Blood sugar has early, small studies on light and glucose, which we will cover in October. They are interesting, not settled.

Smoking, weight and kidney health sit with your GP, your diet and your daily movement. No recovery device replaces that care.

The practical version

  • Know your blood pressure and blood sugar numbers. Ask your GP.
  • Move most days, and train with some intensity a few times a week.
  • Build rituals that make that easier to keep. For many people, a sauna after training is one of them.
  • Stay connected. It is one of the quieter protective habits.

If you have questions or concerns about memory, the National Dementia Helpline is free and available 24 hours a day on 1800 100 500.

Free: The Norge Longevity Guide. Heat, cold and light after 50, with the evidence and the safety rules in one place. Get the guide.

Sources

  1. Dementia Australia, Dementia now leading cause of death for Australians
  2. AIHW, Dementia in Australia summary
  3. Lee et al., 2022, sauna after exercise randomised trial

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a heart condition, low blood pressure or are pregnant, speak with your GP before using heat or cold.

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