17 Ways to Cut Your Risk of Stroke, Dementia and Depression All at Once

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/well/dementia-stroke-depression-prevention.htm

By Nina Agrawal

New research highlights a powerful takeaway: small lifestyle changes can help protect your brain from stroke, dementia, and late-life depression — all at once. Scientists looked at 59 major studies and found 17 overlapping risk and protective factors. The good news? Many of them are within your control. Things like regular walks, cutting back on salt, staying mentally engaged, and building stronger social connections can make a big difference. Even one small shift can ripple out, lowering multiple risks at once.

One standout: high blood pressure nearly triples the risk of stroke and significantly raises chances of dementia. But that can be managed. Other risk boosters include loneliness, poor sleep, high blood sugar, and even hearing loss. On the flip side, eating more veggies and nuts, doing puzzles, or chatting with a friend can help strengthen your brain for the long haul. It’s not about doing everything — just starting somewhere.