Analysis of the health status of U.S. adults ages 65 and older indicates that 2.7 million are living with vascular dementia (impaired supply of blood to the brain, often caused by mini-strokes) or mixed dementia (vascular causes along with Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, or frontotemporal dementia).

But only around 800,000 have been diagnosed with the conditions — even though vascular or mixed subtypes account for almost one-third of dementia cases.

Who's at risk? Anyone whose lifestyle choices negatively affect cardiovascular health, according to a new study in the journal Stroke.

The researchers' conclusion is that if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, and/or obesity, or you smoke, you're doing damage to your cardiovascular system that directly impacts your brain health.

What can you do to prevent or reverse obesity (and excess weight), Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure and dodge dementia?

• Prevention comes from a plant-based diet free of highly processed foods, red meats, red processed meats, and added sugars and salt.

• You can reduce dementia risk by taking 10,000 steps or the equivalent daily, plus two strength-building sessions weekly.

• Having a posse and a purpose to ease stress and counter loneliness will protect your heart and brain as well.

To control or reverse the risks of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, in addition to lifestyle upgrades you may take antihypertensive medications, statins and/or GLP-1s, omega-3s, and vitamin D supplements, and explore therapeutic plasma exchange.

For more details on dozens of ways to protect (or reclaim) your heart and brain health, check out my book, "The Great Age Reboot."