The Alzheimer’s Crisis Is the Boomer’s Crisis
Brain aging and brain health were beginning to gain attention in the mid-2000s. At the same time, I was starting to experience a few brain glitches of my own – and they scared me.
At a 2006 conference on aging, I visited a booth hosted by Posit Science. The research being presented suggested something I found remarkable: the aging brain was not simply destined to decline. There were things we could do through lifestyle and brain training to support cognitive function as we aged. That conference started me on a multiyear quest to learn everything I could about brain aging and brain health.
At the time, we were careful about what we said. We couldn't claim that a brain-healthy lifestyle would prevent Alzheimer's disease or dementia. But emerging research suggested that lifestyle could influence brain aging and potentially delay cognitive decline. To me, it felt as though I had discovered the fountain of youth – not for the body, but for the brain. There was something I could do to change how my brain aged.
But Boomers Weren't Listening
I assumed other Boomers would be as excited about this discovery as I was. To my surprise, many weren't. At the time, dementia seemed like something that happened to someone else. People I talked with didn't believe it would happen to them, and there was little urgency to think about brain health before problems appeared.
That led me to start the My Boomer Brain blog and an educational platform focused on helping people understand what was happening to our aging brains – and what we could do about it. Over time, I continued exploring and sharing what I was learning about age-related changes in the brain and the importance of a brain-healthy lifestyle. But there was a problem.
At the time, the evidence linking modifiable lifestyle factors to dementia risk was still developing.We knew lifestyle mattered to overall health, but the evidence connecting lifestyle directly to cognitive decline and dementia was still developing.
The Science Has Changed
For years, awareness of brain aging and brain health continued to grow, but the urgency to act wasn't there. Today, the conversation is very different. Brain health has become a major focus of longevity research. We now have substantial evidence that factors such as physical activity, cardiovascular health, sleep, nutrition, social engagement, cognitive stimulation, hearing, and other modifiable factors can influence our risk of cognitive decline and dementia. That represents an enormous shift.
In April 2024, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled, “What Middle-Aged People Can Do Now to Help Prevent Dementia Later.” I was thrilled to see this message directed toward people in their 40s and 50s because midlife is an important window for protecting long-term brain health. But there is another population we cannot afford to overlook.
The Boomers.
Boomers Cannot Be Left Out of the Brain-Health Conversation
The sheer size of the Baby Boomer generation, combined with increasing longevity, means millions more Americans are entering the ages when Alzheimer's disease and other dementias become increasingly common. That makes Alzheimer's more than a healthcare crisis.
It makes Alzheimer's a Boomer crisis.
But Boomers should not simply be viewed as the generation destined to drive dementia statistics higher. We still have an opportunity to change the trajectory. A brain-healthy lifestyle cannot guarantee that someone will prevent Alzheimer's disease. Genetics, age, medical conditions, environment, and many other factors contribute to dementia risk. But lifestyle is one part of the equation over which we have meaningful influence. And age does not eliminate the brain's ability to respond to change.
The brain remains capable of adaptation throughout life. Physical activity, better sleep, cardiovascular health, social connection, cognitive challenge, good nutrition, and management of other health risks can support brain function and help build cognitive reserve. The earlier we begin, the better. But it is never too late to give the brain a healthier environment in which to age. Instead of simply identifying Boomers as the generation that will contribute to an Alzheimer's healthcare crisis, we should be investing just as much energy in educating and empowering them.
We need to help Boomers build brains that can better withstand the challenges of longevity.
Beyond Longevity: Making Our Brains Last
The Alzheimer's crisis is indeed the Boomer's crisis – but that doesn't mean our future has already been decided. We need to accelerate efforts to teach Boomers how to protect brain health, reduce modifiable risk factors, build cognitive reserve, and maintain cognitive function for as long as possible.
I am a leading-edge Boomer myself. I began this journey because I was worried about what was happening to my own brain. What I discovered changed the way I thought about aging. Living longer is not enough. We need our brains to last as long as we do.
Today, I call that Brainspan – the length of time our brain networks continue to support cognition, emotional regulation, adaptability, independence, and our sense of self. For Boomers, extending Brainspan may be one of the most important longevity challenges of our lifetime. And I believe we still have time to do something about it.
We cannot control every risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. But we can take greater control over how we care for the brains we have today – and how we prepare them for the years ahead.
About the Author
Patricia Faust is an international award-winning gerontologist, professional speaker and author specialising in the neuroscience of brain ageing and cognitive longevity. Her work explores how cognitive resilience, lifestyle and early intervention can support brain health across the lifespan. She is the author of The Boomer Brain and holds a Master of Gerontological Studies (MGS) from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
References:
Reddy, S. (n.d.). What Middle-Aged People Can Do Now to Help Prevent Dementia Later. WSJ. Retrieved September 10, 2026, from https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/dementia-prevention-middle-age-brain-14d713a3
Mintzer, J., Donovan, K. A., Kindy, A. Z., Lock, S. L., Chura, L. R., & Barracca, N. (2019). Lifestyle Choices and Brain Health. Frontiers in Medicine, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2019.00204