[Modifiable risk and protective factors for dementia: an overview of established and emerging evidence]

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are among the most serious widespread diseases, with societal and healthcare-system relevance expected to increase further in the coming years. Projections of the future disease burden are correspondingly concerning. At the same time, considerable progress has been made in research, particularly in the field of risk reduction. A broad range of established protective and risk factors at the individual level has been identified, alongside a growing number of related intervention studies. Increasingly, however, attention is shifting toward population-based measures aimed at reducing dementia cases in the long term.This article provides an overview of the current state of research. First, drawing on recent data on disease burden, established risk factors are summarized. Building on this, more recent and previously less considered potential determinants are discussed. The review further outlines existing intervention approaches and examines the relevance of population-based prevention strategies for public health and health policy.