A study that followed nearly 30,000 older adults for over 10 years found that six key healthy lifestyle factors can significantly reduce memory loss in older adults. The findings show that adults who engage in four to six healthy lifestyle behaviors have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia, even if they carry genes that predispose them to Alzheimer’s disease. revealed that it is possible.
A new study aims to quantify the impact of several healthy lifestyle factors on age-related memory decline in an older cohort. The goal was to understand what effect it had on slowing down memory decline.
“Six factors of a healthy lifestyle were assessed: a healthy diet (adherence to recommended intake of at least 7 of the 12 target foods), regular exercise (at least 150 minutes per week), moderate intensity or vigorous intensity for 75 minutes or more), active social contact (≥2 times per week), vigorous cognitive activity (≥2 times per week), never smoked or previously consumed alcohol No,” the researchers explain in a new study. “Participants were classified into the preferred group if they had 4-6 elements of a healthy lifestyle, into the average group if they had 2-3 elements, and 0-1 elements. were classified into the unfavorable group.”
They found that participants in the preferred lifestyle group experienced a significantly slower rate of memory decline over the 10-year period compared to participants in the average or unfavorable group. Looking at the rate of new dementia diagnoses over the 10-year study period, researchers found that people in favorable lifestyle groups were 90% more likely to develop dementia compared to those in unfavorable lifestyle groups. Participants in the average group, who had two to three healthy lifestyle behaviors, were only 30% less likely to develop dementia and were more likely to develop dementia in their lifestyle mix. suggest that the addition of healthy behaviors may significantly increase cognitive benefits.
The researchers say the study was set up to effectively reveal which of the six lifestyle factors are the best targets for dementia prevention, or which specific combinations of factors are optimal. However, a breakdown of the data suggests that a healthy diet appears to have the greatest effect on preventing memory loss, with vigorous cognitive activity and regular exercise coming just behind. was showing.
About 20% of the study cohort carried specific gene variants known to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In this group, a combination of several healthy lifestyle behaviors also slowed the rate of memory decline, suggesting that even people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease could benefit greatly from lifestyle changes. suggests.
“Each lifestyle factor contributed to delaying memory decline, but our results showed that participants who maintained a healthier lifestyle factor were more likely than those with a less healthy lifestyle factor.” also showed that memory decline was significantly slower. provide further evidence that is likely to be modifiable.”
This research BMJMore.
Source: BMJ
