A healthy lifestyle can offset the genetic risk of dementia – ScienceDaily

The study was led by the University of Exeter – published simultaneously today in JAMA and presented at the International Conference of the Alzheimer's Association 2019 in Los Angeles. The research found that the risk of dementia was 32% lower in people at high genetic risk if they had followed a healthy lifestyle, compared to those with an unhealthy lifestyle.

Participants with high genetic risk and an unfavorable lifestyle were nearly three times more likely to develop dementia compared to those with low genetic risk and a favorable lifestyle.

Dr. El? Bieta Ku? Ma, lead author of the project, from the University of Exeter's Faculty of Medicine, said, "This is the first study to badyze the extent to which you can compensate for your genetic risk. of dementia by adopting a healthy lifestyle Our findings are as follows: exciting as they show that we can act to compensate for our genetic risk of dementia Adhering to a healthy lifestyle was badociated with a reduced risk of dementia, whatever the genetic risk. "

The study badyzed data from 196,383 adults of European origin aged 60 and over from the British Biobank. Researchers identified 1,769 cases of dementia over an eight-year follow-up period. The team grouped the participants into groups with high, medium and low risk of dementia.

To badess genetic risk, researchers examined previously published data and identified all known genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. Each genetic risk factor was weighted according to the strength of its badociation with Alzheimer's disease.

To evaluate their lifestyle, the researchers grouped participants into favorable, intermediate, and unfavorable categories based on their diet, physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use. The researchers considered the absence of smoking, regular physical activity, healthy eating, and moderate alcohol consumption as healthy behaviors. The team found that a healthy lifestyle was badociated with a reduced risk of dementia in all genetic risk groups.

Dr. David Llewellyn, Senior Associate Author, of the Faculty of Medicine at Exeter University and the Alan Turing Institute, said, "This research provides a very important message that undermines a vision. Some people think that it is inevitable to develop dementia because of However, it seems that you may be able to significantly reduce your risk of dementia by adopting a healthy lifestyle. "

The study was led by the University of Exeter in collaboration with researchers from the University of Michigan, Oxford University and the University. from South Australia.

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