A new report warns that people who care for loved ones with dementia may be putting their own brain health at risk, due in large part to stress and unhealthy lifestyle factors.
According to the June 12 report from the Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Caregiving, nearly 60% of dementia caregivers have at least one risk factor that increases their own chances of developing dementia in the future.
The report, titled Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline Among Dementia Caregivers, analyzed health data from 47 U.S. states, collected by federal agencies between 2021 and 2022. The findings highlight an often-overlooked issue: the toll that caregiving can take on the caregiver’s long-term mental and physical health.
“Dementia caregivers are often so focused on caring for a family member or friend that they neglect their own well-being,” said Matthew Baumgart, senior vice president of health policy for the Alzheimer’s Association and a member of the public health center’s executive committee.
“This report should be a wake-up call for public health efforts to support caregivers before their own health starts to suffer.”
Researchers found that dementia caregivers are more likely than the general public to have five key risk factors for unhealthy brain aging:
- Smoking: 30% more likely than non-caregivers
- High blood pressure: 27% more likely
- Poor sleep: 21% more likely
- Diabetes: 12% more likely
- Obesity: 8% more likely
One bright spot was physical activity—caregivers were 9% less likely to be physically inactive, likely because of the physical demands of caregiving.
The report also raised concerns about younger caregivers. These individuals—many in their 30s and 40s—are facing even higher risks compared to their peers. For example, younger dementia caregivers were:
- 86% more likely to smoke
- 46% more likely to have high blood pressure
- 29% more likely to get less than six hours of sleep per night
Altogether, 22% of younger caregivers had two or more major risk factors for dementia, compared to 16% in the general population of the same age group.
Joseph Gaugler, director of the Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, emphasized the importance of using this data to shape future policy. “By identifying these elevated risks among dementia caregivers, especially among specific groups, public health agencies can create more targeted interventions,” he said.
Groups at highest risk include younger caregivers, men, and those who identify as American Indian/Alaska Native or Black. These caregivers were more likely to report conditions or behaviors that increase long-term risk for cognitive decline.
The report highlights the need for greater public health focus on caregivers—not just the people they care for. Supporting caregivers with better access to mental health services, sleep support, smoking cessation programs, and routine health screenings could help reduce their long-term risk of developing dementia themselves.
In short, this research makes one thing clear: while caregivers provide vital support to loved ones with dementia, they also need help to protect their own future brain health.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about dietary strategies to ward off dementia, and how omega-3 fatty acids fuel your mind.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Choline deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and what to eat (and avoid) for dementia prevention.
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