For people with the three risk factors, dementia risk rose from 23% at age 55 to 37% at 75. People with the three risk factors had about 18 dementia-free years of their lives, compared to an estimated 30 years for those with no risk factors. “We found if you had more risk factors, you had an elevated risk of both dementia and mortality,” Coresh said. “Controlling anything that improves cardiovascular health will also improve brain health.” The NYU research focused on vascular health, although many of the same risk factors also contribute to Alzheimer’s, Coresh said.