The number of Americans who will develop dementia—a progressive decline in memory, thinking skills, communication, and overall cognitive ability—is estimated to double by 2060, from 514,000 new cases each year in 2020 to one million cases each year by 2060, according to a study in Nature Medicine.

New research suggests that the risk for developing dementia is significantly higher than previously estimated, and the burden on the United States population will grow substantially over the next few decades.

Recent headlines suggest that up to 42% of people ages 55 and older face an eventual dementia diagnosis. But some experts have a follow-up message: Risk isn't the same as destiny, and there are ways to reduce it.