Lifestyle factors could be key to preventing Alzheimer’s

The risk of developing dementia in later life is linked with cardiovascular disease, high-blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes.

Just nine key risk factors may account for two-thirds of all Alzheimer’s cases worldwide, a new study suggests. The UK study showed a significant reduction (about 22%) in overall prevalence in people aged 65 years in 2011 than the predicted estimates in 1990, resulting in stabilisation of estimated numbers of people with dementia.

This was published online in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry today (Thursday 20 August).

The aging UK population should have led to addition people with dementia, but researchers said that expected increase did not occur.

Along with an aim to improve research into prevention and treatment, the goals of the plan also include measures for present intervention like enhancing care quality and efficiency of patients and extending support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

Chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, Hilary Evans, said: “What we know is that we have an ageing population and age is the biggest risk factor when it comes to dementia”. First of all, it’s in line with known improvements in protective factors for mental health – such as living conditions and education – and secondly, it also coincides with a general drop in risk factors over past decades, such as vascular diseases. Hughes added that with no cure and few effective treatments, the serious economic impacts of dementia still exceed those of cancer and heart disease, making dementia the most critical social and health care challenge in the UK. PAR is a mathematical formula used to define the proportion of disease in a distinct population that would disappear if exposure to a specific risk factor were removed.

The scientists found that much of the previous evidence suggesting a rise in dementia cases was likely inaccurate because some research is out of date as it was started in the 1980s. In these studies, the researchers have carried out comparative analysis involving the number of people with dementia and those diagnosed in two different points in time.

On the other end of the spectrum, the researchers found that dietary factors such as intake of coffee, folate and vitamins C and E, as well as the intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, statins, and antihypertensive medication and estrogen supplements may decrease the risk of developing AD. Those who were light or moderate drinkers of alcohol similarly saw their Alzheimer’s risk dip, alongside current smokers (apart from those of Asian descent), those struggling with stress, and seniors with high body mass index.

“As there is still no surefire way to prevent Alzheimer’s, we need to see more research like this and make sure the public are aware that there are things they can be doing now to reduce their risk of the condition”.