Interactive Resource
Brain Health Explorer
What can you actually do for your brain health?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent dementia. But research has identified factors across the lifespan that are associated with brain health and dementia risk — and some of them can be changed.
Explore what the evidence says, what you can reasonably do, and where the science still has limits.
About the "45%" estimate
Research from the Lancet Commission estimates that addressing 14 potentially modifiable risk factors could theoretically prevent or delay approximately 45% of dementia cases at a population level. This does not mean that an individual can reduce their personal dementia risk by 45%, nor does it mean dementia is always preventable.
Never present "45%" as an individual's achievable risk reduction.
A risk factor is not a guarantee
- Association does not necessarily prove causation.
- A modifiable risk factor is something associated with risk that may potentially be changed.
- Evidence that a factor is associated with dementia is not automatically evidence that changing it prevents dementia.
- Population-level estimates cannot be directly converted into an individual's personal risk reduction.
Explore the evidence
Factors associated with brain health
Organized into human-friendly domains. Tap any domain to explore the factors within it, then tap a factor for its full evidence explainer.
Optional tool
What would you like to work on?
Select the areas you believe are relevant to you. This does not calculate your risk or produce a diagnosis. It simply helps you organize the information above into a personal action summary.
The bigger picture
Brain health probably isn't one "magic" intervention
Brain health probably should not be thought of as finding one "magic" intervention. Physical activity, cardiovascular and metabolic health, nutrition, cognitive and social engagement, and other factors may work together.
Multidomain approaches combine several lifestyle interventions at once. The FINGER trial in Finland found that a multidomain intervention — combining diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring — improved cognition in older adults at increased risk. The U.S. POINTER study is testing a similar approach in the United States; its primary results have not yet been published.
It is important to distinguish improvement or preservation of cognitive outcomes from demonstrated prevention of dementia. These trials show cognitive benefit — they do not prove that dementia can be prevented.
Evidence check
What about supplements and other brain-health claims?
Something can be biologically plausible or associated with health without having evidence that taking or doing it prevents dementia. Below are evidence-based answers to common questions.
Brain health isn't a purity test.
Dementia is not simply the result of lifestyle choices. Age, genetics, biology, medical conditions, social determinants, environmental exposures, and chance all contribute. People can do everything "right" and still develop dementia.
Risk reduction means addressing the things we reasonably can. It does not mean blaming people for the things they cannot control.
About this tool
The Brain Health Explorer provides general educational information about factors associated with brain health and dementia risk. It does not calculate individual risk, diagnose disease, or provide personalized medical advice. Health decisions should take into account an individual's medical history, medications, conditions, risks, and preferences.