Healthy Lifestyle helps reducing dementia and Alzheimer’s genetic risk

Feb, 2021 - By WMR

A recent review of performed experiments suggests that healthy living lifestyle can reduce the risk of genetic Alzheimer’s and dementia which is marked by memory disorders.

The research team from the University of Exeter analyzed the risk of dementia was 32% lower with the people following a healthy lifestyle compared to those living unhealthy lifestyle. This was also presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Los Angeles and published in Journal of the American Medical Association.

To conduct the experiment, genetic risk favorable and unfavorable categories were made. This study included testing on the four major factors - proper diets, regular physical activity, smoking habits and alcohol consumption. Participants with unhealthy lifestyle and genetic risk were three times more likely to face dementia compared to those with a healthy lifestyle and low genetic risk. However, as genetics plays a vital role in the risk of Alzheimer’s.

People’s genes, which are inherited from their biological parents, can affect how likely they are to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Genetic risk factors are changes or differences in genes that can influence the chance of getting a disease. These risk factors are the reason some diseases run in families. However, this research helps us to minimize the risk factors by altering our living lifestyle. Further, the study from Rush University took a granular approach at how lifestyle factors to influence the progressive disease. 2000 subjects were tracked for about nine years, which eventually concluded that a healthy diet, 2-3 hours exercise, light alcohol consumption, no smoking habit and performing simulative activity can reduce the risk fact.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) studies, around 50 million people worldwide face dementia and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year. Alzheimer’s, is a progressive disease where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over years is the most common form and may contribute to 60-70% of cases. Healthy living lifestyle is the new focus to reduce dementia risk across all genetic risk groups.