A new review has found that stroke, dementia, and depression in older adults share many of the same risk factors—17 in total. This means that making changes in these areas could help prevent more than one of these serious conditions. The study was published on April 3 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
The research was led by Dr. Jasper Senff from Massachusetts General Hospital. His team looked at a large number of previous studies—59 meta-analyses in total—to find which risk factors were most strongly linked to all three conditions: stroke, dementia, and late-life depression.
These are some of the most common and disabling brain-related health problems that affect people as they age.
The team used a method that took into account how much each factor contributes to years of life lost to disability. This is called a DALY, or disability-adjusted life year. In simple terms, they wanted to find out which factors, when changed, could help people live longer and healthier lives without brain-related illnesses.
The 17 modifiable risk factors they found included both physical and mental health issues, as well as lifestyle and social factors. For example, high blood pressure, high body weight, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol were all linked to greater risk.
So were kidney problems, sleep issues, hearing loss, chronic pain, and smoking. On the emotional side, stress and depressive symptoms were important risk factors, too.
The study also found that people who stayed mentally and socially active—by doing things like reading, engaging in conversations, or having a sense of purpose—had lower risks of developing these brain disorders. Regular physical activity and a healthy diet were also shown to be protective.
Each factor had a different level of impact. For instance, keeping your brain active through leisure-time activities was one of the most protective factors.
On the other hand, high blood pressure, poor kidney function, and high blood sugar were among the strongest harmful factors. Social engagement, having a sense of purpose in life, and regular exercise also played important roles in reducing risk.
Dr. Senff explained that these three conditions—stroke, dementia, and late-life depression—are closely connected. If someone develops one of them, they are more likely to develop another later. But because they share the same risk factors, improving one’s health in just a few areas could reduce the chances of getting all three.
The takeaway is hopeful: many of these risk factors can be changed. By staying physically active, socially connected, mentally engaged, and by managing health problems like blood pressure or diabetes, people may protect their brain health in multiple ways at once.
It’s also worth noting that some of the authors of the review had connections to the pharmaceutical or medical technology industries. However, the findings are in line with what many health experts have already been saying: lifestyle changes can have powerful effects on our brain health as we age.
In summary, this review offers strong evidence that taking care of your body and mind throughout life—especially in later years—can help prevent stroke, dementia, and depression. Since these conditions are often linked and affect millions of older adults, even small improvements in these areas could make a big difference in public health.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
The study is published in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
