WHO updates dementia guidance: a new risk factor, supplements to avoid and a hearing loss must

You’re going to want to remember this.Around the world, more than 57 million people are living with dementia, and nearly 10 million more are diagnosed each year.While there is currently no cure, research suggests that up to 45% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable health and lifestyle factors.Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) is updating its guidance on how to do just that, releasing the first major revision to its recommendations for preventing dementia and cognitive decline since 2019.“We know more today than ever before about what drives dementia risk, and these guidelines translate that knowledge into action,” Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said in a press release.“Countries now have clear, evidence-based recommendations they can put into practice immediately to protect people’s cognitive health.”While much of the report builds on advice first issued by the WHO seven years ago, it also highlights several newer strategies that global health experts say may help people protect their cognitive health as they age.Here are three of the most notable updates — including one common practice the WHO says you may want to rethink.One of the biggest changes in the global public health agency’s 2026 guidance centers on a surprising factor that may influence dementia risk: the air people breathe every day.The WHO now recommends limiting exposure to air pollution as part of a broader strategy to lower the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.The biggest concern centers around fine particulate matter, particularly tiny particles known as PM2.5.

These microscopic pollutants come from a variety of sources, including wildfire smoke, vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and even some household products.Because they are so small, PM2.5 particles can slip past the body’s natural defenses and may reach the brain.Researchers believe they can trigger inflammation and oxidative stress — two harmful ...