Your risk for dementia may not be fixed
In this concise presentation, board‑certified neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter explains a recent Lancet study that identified 14 lifestyle and metabolic variables which, when optimized, can halve an individual’s risk of developing dementia. He lists the variables—education, use of hearing aids, wearing bike helmets, regular exercise, blood‑pressure control, low LDL cholesterol, weight management, moderate alcohol consumption, avoidance of smoking, reduced social isolation, and lower exposure to air pollution—emphasizing that many act through metabolic pathways that influence the brain’s immune system. Perlmutter connects these findings to the central theme of his new book, Brain Defenders, arguing that by managing these metabolic factors we can modulate the brain’s immune response, turning it from destructive to supportive. He frames the information as actionable tools that empower people to become architects of their own brain health and destiny.
