Roughly 45% of dementia cases are potentially preventable, according to Carolina Pires, who made the assessment in remarks reported by HealthNews on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The figure points to a substantial share of cases that may be avoidable rather than an inevitable result of aging.
The HealthNews report places Pires's estimate within a broader regional discussion. Folha de S.Paulo has reported that dementia is increasing in Latin America and that the rise cannot be explained by aging alone. Together, the two reports suggest that factors beyond demographic change are shaping how many people develop the condition.
Coverage of the issue has also focused on public understanding. G1 has published material on how Alzheimer's disease affects memory, while the Portal da Alego and the Correio Braziliense have each highlighted efforts to widen awareness of dementias. These outlets reflect a recurring theme in recent reporting: recognition of the condition and its risk factors is treated as part of the response.
What is not established in the available reporting is which specific risk factors Pires considers preventable, or how her estimate was calculated. HealthNews provides the 45% figure as her assessment, and the underlying methodology is not detailed in the material available.
The 45% estimate is notable because it frames a portion of dementia cases as modifiable — a claim that, if borne out, would shift attention toward prevention alongside treatment and care. It also sits alongside evidence that the region's rising numbers involve more than an older population.
Next, watch for fuller detail on which risk factors are driving that preventable share and how researchers propose to act on them.
