The use of the term “brain health” has increased dramatically in the past decade, reflecting a growing focus on overall brain wellness. It encompasses overall brain function and is distinct from the term “mental health,” which focuses on emotional and psychological well-being.
More than 80 percent of American adults 50 and older are familiar with the concept of brain health, understanding it to mean a good memory and the ability to think, learn, and solve problems. But only 30 percent believe lifestyle habits can significantly reduce their risk of dementia, while 40 percent said they can lower their risk “a little,” according to these survey results.
Once diagnosed, however, a majority of survey respondents said they would make lifestyle modifications if they received a dementia diagnosis. These would include engaging in mentally stimulating activities (78%), getting restful sleep (64 percent), and eating nutritious meals (63 percent).
Medication awareness and acceptance
Age is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, which currently affects nearly 7 million Americans over age 65. Two medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and have been shown to slow its progression. Although only one in 10 adults 50 and older are aware of these medications, 79 percent said they would be willing to take medication for that purpose.
This willingness increases with age. While 75 percent of adults ages 50–64 said they would take medication, 83 percent of respondents over age 65 said they would.
Two additional medications are approved to treat certain symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease such as agitation and psychosis. Nearly three-quarters of older adults (74 percent) said they would take medication to manage their symptoms.
Early warning system
Eight in 10 adults ages 50-plus have never heard of a blood test that detects biomarkers that indicate the presence of abnormal levels of beta-amyloid and tau. Buildup of p-tau217 over time is a biomarker that correlates with declining cognition and brain atrophy. Among those who have heard of the blood test, nearly half of survey respondents (48 percent) said they would be extremely or very likely to get it. This blood test is in development but not yet widely available for use in doctor’s offices.
New survey findings
American adults 50-plus understand what “brain health” means and the data suggest they would undertake a variety of strategies to preserve it. While awareness of new medications to manage the symptoms or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is low, knowledge about the impact of healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk is relatively high. Most adults said they understand that early-stage diagnosis of dementia would enable more effective treatment.
Methodology
In February 2025, AARP Research fielded the nationally representative survey of 1,012 Americans age 50 and older, both by telephone and online.
For more information, please contact Laura Mehegan at lmehegan@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.