Four Quick Wins to Minimize Alzheimer’s Risk

Over 80 percent of dementia cases could be prevented, cutting your future risk to less than a quarter, just by tackling four quick wins – more vitamin D, omega-3, B vitamins, and less sugar

May 6, 2025, Food for the Brain – What can a person easily do to prevent getting Alzheimer’s later in life? An international Alzheimer’s Prevention Expert Group have calculated that over 80 percent of dementia cases could be prevented, cutting your future risk to less than a quarter, just by tackling four quick wins – more vitamin D, omega-3, B vitamins, and less sugar.

A study in the Netherlands last year found that those having low blood levels of vitamin D, omega-3 (found in oily fish), and B vitamins had more than four times the risk of developing dementia. The fourth quick win is cutting back on sugar and sugary drinks. A study just published this month in the Neurology journal involving 2 million people shows that those with sugar problems (metabolic syndrome) are 24% more likely to develop dementia early. Diabetics have double the risk of cognitive decline.

Vitamin D: The Sunshine Factor

Vitamin D is mainly made in the skin in the presence of UVB from sunlight, available midday during summer months, depending on latitude and several other factors.

There’s a little vitamin D in food, with oily fish being the best source. In the winter months when UVB is not available, it must be supplemented. Also, the darker the skin the more sunshine exposure a person needs. Those who supplement with vitamin D cut their risk by a third.

The Dutch study found that individuals with lower vitamin D blood levels had a greater risk for dementia, up to a level of 25 ng/ml (62.5nmol/l). A study of older people in France found those with low vitamin D had triple the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Omega-3 and Fish

Eating fish is a brain essential. It’s not just rich in omega-3 fats, but also vitamin D and vitamin B12, which is the most important B vitamin for the brain. Eating fish once or more each week reduces future risk of Alzheimer’s by a third. Having a serving a day cuts risk of cognitive decline by almost a third, according to the latest review of all studies.

Much of this is down to omega-3 fats, which literally builds brain cells. A UK Biobank study of a quarter of a million people found that having a higher omega-3 intake reduced risk of dementia by a fifth. Those who take fish oil supplements reduced their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by two thirds. An analysis of 48 studies found that risk for ‘dementia or cognitive decline decreased by about 20%, especially for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake’. DHA is rich in omega-3 supplements and oily fish such as the ‘smash’ fish – salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines and herrings (kippers).

The Dutch research found that those with a blood omega-3 index (which measures the percent of DHA and EPA in the blood cells) of less that 5% had increasingly more dementia risk. Most people have a level lower than this. A US study by psychologists at the Linda Loma University in California found that the higher one’s omega-3 index, the more white matter there was in their brain, and the better they performed on cognitive tests that predicted less risk of dementia.

“Increasing consumption of marine omega-3 fatty acids is a safe, simple, cheap and effective tool in the fight to forestall the development of Alzheimer’s dementia” says Professor William Harris of the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI).

B Vitamins – B6, B12 and Folate

B vitamins, especially vitamin B6, B12 and folate, found in greens as well as beans, lentils and nuts, are especially important because they fix omega-3 fats into the brain cell membranes. Not getting enough B vitamins can cause blood levels of a toxic amino acid called homocysteine to rise. A level above 11 mcmol/l is associated with brain shrinkage and Alzheimer’s risk. A US survey found half of those over 60 had a homocysteine level above 11. The Dutch study found dementia risk increased with a level above 8, which is very common, increased future risk for dementia.

“Elevated blood homocysteine is an established, early marker for increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, elevated homocysteine in the blood is easily measured and can serve as a “canary in the coal mine” that can foretell what’s coming well before overt impairment occurs. This allows time for preventative measures such as B vitamin supplements and omega-3 fatty acid supplements, which likely enhance the effects of homocysteine-lowering.” Says Professor Joshua Miller, Chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University, New Jersey, US.

Homocysteine is measured with a home test kit and lowered with a B vitamin supplement providing high amounts of B12 (500mcg), folate and B6.

Folate (think foliage) is rich in greens and beans. The more veg you eat, the better. A recent study found that swapping one serving of processed meat with a serving of nuts and beans, high in folate, which could mean a vegetarian protein meal such as a nut roast or bean casserole or curry, was associated with a 19% lower risk of dementia.

Sugar and Refined Foods

The more sugar a person eats, including refined white carbohydrate foods such as bread, pastries, pasta and rice, the higher their risk of both diabetes and dementia. Fizzy drinks and ultra-processed foods, sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, are particularly bad for the brain.

“The brain needs the most energy of any organ, so it has the most mitochondria to make it. Sugar damages mitochondria.” Says Dr. Robert Lustig from the University of California, San Francisco.

Keeping blood glucose levels in the low-normal range is reflected by a low glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), which is the blood test doctors use to diagnose diabetes. Having a lower HbA1c is associated with reduced risk for dementia in several studies. A recent study of 374,021 older men with diabetes found that keeping the level of HbA1c stable over three years cut risk of dementia by a third.

How do you know what’s driving your risk? There’s a free 3-minute Alzheimer’s Prevention Check on the Alzheimer’s Prevention Day website – alzheimersprevention.info to find out what’s potentially driving your risk and what you can do about it. The Alzheimer’s prevention charity Food for the Brain also offers a four-in-one blood test from a home test kit to measure the omega-3 index, vitamin D, homocysteine (for B vitamin status) and HbA1c for sugar control. See foodforthebrain.org/drift.

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ABOUT THE ALZHEIMER’S PREVENTION EXPERT GROUP

The Alzheimer’s Prevention Expert Group (APEG) is a voluntary group of scientists and professors, all experts in an aspect relating to the prevention of cognitive decline, from leading Universities in the US, Canada, the UK, EU and China. See foodforthebrain.org/apeg.

ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S PREVENTION DAY

An initiative, within Alzheimer’s Awareness Week, to give people the information and encouragement to take steps towards preventing Alzheimer’s. The alzheimersprevention.info website includes a 3-minute Alzheimer’s Prevention Check and a 30 second ‘selfie’ challenge to record and share something you do to help prevent Alzheimer’s. The website alzheimersprevention.info also includes 3-minute videos from world-leading dementia prevention experts regarding important prevention steps.

ABOUT THE FOOD FOR THE BRAIN FOUNDATION

The Food for the Brain Foundation (foodforthebrain.org) is an educational and research charity (no.1116438), focusing on dementia prevention. It’s free online validated Cognitive Function Test, followed by the Dementia Risk Index questionnaire assessing eight drivers of dementia, then advising participants what to do. To take the test yourself visit www.foodforthebrain.org

For media enquiries or to arrange interviews please contact Jen Aliano, GrassrootsHealth at [email protected].

The references to the studies referred to in this article, are given below

Measure Your Levels Today

Create your custom home blood spot kit to help determine if you are getting enough of the following nutrients shown to benefit overall health, along with other measures, including:

• Vitamin D
• Omega-3 Index plus Omega-3:Omega-6 and AA:EPA Ratios
• Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Lead, Cadmium & Mercury
• hsCRP
• HbA1c
• Type 1 Diabetes Autoantibodies
• TSH

Enroll and test your levels today, learn what steps to take to improve your status of omega-3s, vitamin D and other nutrients and blood markers, and take action! By enrolling in the GrassrootsHealth projects, you are not only contributing valuable information to everyone, you are also gaining knowledge about how you could improve your own health through measuring and tracking your nutrient status, and educating yourself on how to improve it.

Enroll in D*action and Test Your Levels Today!

References

1. van Soest APM., et al Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Jul;20(7):4594-4601
2. Lee JY, Han K, Kim J, Lim JS, Cheon DY, Lee M. Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Young-Onset Dementia: A Nationwide Population-Based Study. Neurology. 2025 May 27;104(10):e213599. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000213599. Epub 2025 Apr 23. PMID: 40267374.
3. Ghahremani M, et al. Vitamin D supplementation and incident dementia: Effects of sex, APOE, and baseline cognitive status. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2023 Mar;15(1):e12404. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12404
4. Feart C, et al. Associations of lower vitamin D concentrations with cognitive decline and long-term risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in older adults. Alzheimers Dement. 2017 Nov;13(11):1207-1216. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2017.03.003
5. Beydoun MA, et al. Epidemiologic studies of modifiable factors associated with cognition and dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:643. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-643
6. Godos J, et al. Fish consumption, cognitive impairment and dementia: an updated dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2024;61:3731–3739. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-024-02823-6
7. Sala-Vila A, et al. Plasma Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Risk for Incident Dementia in the UK Biobank Study: A Closer Look. Nutrients. 2023 Nov;15(23):4896.
8. Loong S, et al. Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Cognition, and Brain Volume in Older Adults. Brain Sci. 2023;13:1278. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13091278
9. Li Y, et al. Long-term intake of red meat in relation to dementia risk and cognitive function in US adults. Neurology.2025;104(3):e210286. doi: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000210286
10. Luchsinger JA, et al. Hyperinsulinemia and risk of Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2004;63(7):1187–92. doi:https://doi.org/10.1212/01.WNL.0000140292.04932.04932.87; see also Abbatecola AM, et al. Insulin resistance and executive dysfunction in older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc.2004;52(10):1713–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52466.x ;see also Xu WL, et al. Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a population-based cohort study. Diabetologia. 2009;52(6):1031–9. doi: 10.1007/s00125-009-1323-x ;see also Hassing LB, et al. Type 2 diabetes mellitus contributes to cognitive decline in old age: a longitudinal population-based study. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2004;10(4):599–607. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617704104165
    ; see also Yaffe K, et al. Glycosylated hemoglobin level and development of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in older women. J Nutr Health Aging. 2006;10(4):293–5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16886099/ ; see also Roberts RO, et al. Diabetes and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels are associated with brain hypometabolism but not amyloid accumulation. J Nucl Med. 2014;55(5):759–64. https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/55/5/759
11. Underwood PC, et al. HbA1c time in range and dementia. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2425354. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.25354