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The Lancet Commission

The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care, led by Professor Gill Livingston, combines the expertise of 24 dementia experts, including ten researchers from UCL.

Commission findings

The Lancet Commission identifies nine potentially modifiable health and lifestyle factors which, if eliminated, could prevent up to one in three cases of dementia. Although dementia typically develops in old age, these risk factors develop throughout life, and include:

  • Mid-life hearing loss
  • Failing to complete secondary education
  • Smoking
  • Failing to seek early treatment for depression
  • Physical inactivity
  • Social isolation
  • High blood pressure 
  • Obesity 
  • Type 2 diabetes

The Commission was first presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in July 2017. From the group of 24 experts who contributed to the study, the 10 UCL researchers who participated in the Commission are: 

Find out more about the Lancet Commission

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Infographic 

Lancet Commission infographic: risk factors for dementia