Dementia expert warns nearly half of cases could be prevented by three lifestyle changes
Want to lessen your chance of contracting dementia? Well, one expert has three hot tips to do just that.
According to The Alzheimer's Society, one in three people alive today are expected to be diagnosed with dementia at some stage in their life.
Earlier in 2026, Professor Catherine Mummery explained on This Morning that around 45 per cent of cases could possibly be preventable if lifestyle changes were implemented.
Her appearances just days after Britain's youngest dementia patient died of the disease at the age of just 24, two years after receiving his diagnosis.
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While there are several different causes of dementia, viewers were shocked to learn that the first step we should be taking to keep track of our risk factors is checking our blood pressure.
"45 percent of dementia is preventable if you modify your risk factors," Professor Mummery explained. "And what I mean by that is especially when you’re talking about vascular dementia, a lot of the problems that lead to that are related to problems with your blood vessels, and that, so, what’s good for your heart, is good for your brain."
According to the NHS, vascular dementia is a common type of the disease and is 'caused by reduced blood flow to the brain'.
Mummery continued: "So your blood pressure, your cholesterol, if you’ve got diabetes, if you smoke, those things are all bad for your heart and bad for your brain.
"So all of those things you can manage better will reduce your risk, especially in vascular dementia. But then there are other things that significantly reduce risk."
What changes can you make?
What exactly does this mean, in terms of making changes then? Professor Mummery went on to explain that exercise, mental exercise and a healthy diet are key to potentially avoiding certain types of dementia.
"So, exercise, making sure that you get regular physical exercise three times a week, get out of breath. That’s a good plan," she explained.
"Second thing is mental exercise - doesn’t have to be a brain game. It can be anything that you really enjoy that stretches you, that makes you feel like you’re doing something new.
"Whatever works for you, it can be many different things."
And last, but certainly not least important, the health expert explained the importance of a healthy diet, containing 'vegetables, lots of fresh food', while avoiding 'processed stuff and too much sugar'.
"And those things together will really help in terms of trying to reduce that risk of you getting any form of dementia, not just vascular dementia," she concluded.
Some of the other ways to help reduce the risk of dementia, according to The Alzheimer's Society, are to cut down on alcohol consumption, smoking, and manage long-term health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
If you've been affected by dementia or Alzheimer's and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact the Alzheimer’s Society via 0333 150 3456 or visit their website for more information.
Topics: Health, ITV, This Morning
Emma Rosemurgey