Those who avoided all three risk factors averaged 30 dementia-free years following their baseline health exams. "We found if you had more risk factors, you had an elevated risk of both dementia and mortality," Coresh said. The study also identified notable demographic differences in how vascular risk affected dementia-free lifespan. Among those with all three risk factors, women averaged 18.1 dementia-free years, compared with 16.6 years for men. "Vascular health in midlife influences Alzheimer's pathology," he said.