Tanana Chiefs say up to 45% of dementia may be prevented or delayed

Nearly half of dementia cases may be preventable or delayable by managing everyday health risks, according to a health advisory Tanana Chiefs Conference issued to Interior Alaska residents this month.

The guidance draws on research from the Lancet Commission, which links 14 risk factors to a large share of dementia cases worldwide — a population-level estimate, not a prediction for any one person. Hearing loss is the single biggest factor the research identifies, and TCC notes that using a hearing aid is tied to a meaningfully lower risk. Other steps it recommends: regular exercise (150 minutes of moderate activity a week), a healthy diet, controlling blood pressure, good sleep, staying mentally and socially active, vision and hearing care, not smoking, limiting alcohol, treating depression, preventing head injuries, keeping up with routine adult vaccines, and talking with a doctor about individual risk.

TCC's advisory focuses on prevention. It does not address what Alaska Native families face once dementia sets in — including the cost of care and a shortage of culturally safe caregiver training in the region.