The World Health Organization (WHO) has published the second edition of its guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Bringing together the field’s latest research evidence, the guidelines seek to encourage policymakers, healthcare providers and other stakeholders in different countries to take preventive action to reduce the risk of dementia and delay its onset.
From the University of Eastern Finland, Professor of Health Promotion Tiina Laatikainen and Professor of Neurogeriatrics Miia Kivipelto, who also works at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, contributed to the development of the guidelines. Both served as expert members of a WHO-appointed working group tasked, among other things, with defining the scope of the guidelines and assessing the research evidence underpinning them.
Dementia affects more than 57 million people worldwide, and this number is expected to rise sharply in the coming decades. As there is currently no curative treatment for dementia, prevention plays a crucial role. According to the WHO, up to 45% of all dementia cases can be linked to modifiable risk factors, that is, factors that can be influenced, for example, through lifestyle. These include for example physical inactivity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, exposure to air pollution and social isolation.
The FINGER study, conducted in Finland, has yielded strong research evidence showing that several modifiable risk factors can be addressed simultaneously through lifestyle interventions. The findings have increased our understanding of dementia prevention and supported the development of international prevention guidelines.
“The WHO guidelines identify the risk factors and preventive measures whose effectiveness is supported by the strongest scientific evidence. Evidence-based recommendations help target preventive measures at factors that have been shown to have an impact and that may reduce the risk of dementia at the population level,” Professor Tiina Laatikainen says.
“The WHO guidelines provide an important evidence-based framework for healthcare providers and policymakers worldwide. They are intended to support countries in translating research evidence into practical action and integrating dementia risk reduction into health policies, services and prevention programmes,” Professor Miia Kivipelto says.
The updated guidelines are based on a comprehensive review of research published since the first edition appeared in 2019. New additions include recommendations on reducing exposure to air pollution and on the use of individually tailored, multidomain interventions to address several risk factors simultaneously. The guidelines also take into account factors such as sleep, stroke, vision impairment, traumatic brain injury and HIV infection.
For further information, please contact:
Professor Tiina Laatikainen, University of Eastern Finland, [email protected], tel. +358 50 307 8604
Professor Miia Kivipelto, Karolinska Insititutet and University of Eastern Finland, [email protected], [email protected] tel+46-73-9940922
Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia: WHO guidelines, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2026. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
