Brain health includes your eyes, ears and teeth.

Experts report that common conditions — including vision and hearing loss, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep problems and gum disease — are linked with higher dementia risk, and some studies cited show reduced risk after interventions such as cataract surgery and hearing-aid use.

The article outlines expert views and recent research linking whole-body health to dementia risk. It explains that the brain is continuously connected with other organs and that common conditions can influence brain ageing. Reports cited include a 2024 Lancet Commission and research noted by Queen Mary University of London. The piece highlights evidence from studies on eyesight, hearing, sleep, cardiovascular and oral health. Key findings: - Uncorrected vision in middle and later life is reported to raise dementia risk by about 50%, and studies cited link cataract surgery with an approximate 30% reduced risk. - Hearing difficulties were associated with a 40% higher dementia risk in the Lancet Commission report, and research of nearly 17,000 people found hearing-aid users had about a 17% lower risk than non-users. - Consistently sleeping less than six hours in mid-life is reported as linked to a 30% greater dementia risk, with chronic insomnia affecting brain clearance of proteins such as beta amyloid. - High blood pressure is described as the biggest modifiable factor for memory loss, by narrowing arteries and contributing to vascular damage and stroke risk. - Type 2 diabetes is reported to roughly triple the chance of developing Alzheimer's, with high blood sugar and insulin affecting brain blood vessels and protein accumulation. - A 2021 review found gum disease was associated with 60–80% higher odds of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's, with chronic oral inflammation noted as a possible pathway. Summary: The article presents evidence linking sensory loss, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, sleep problems and gum disease with higher risks of dementia, and it cites studies showing lower risk after some treatments. Undetermined at this time.