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Living a healthy lifestyle could help reduce your risk of dementia, even if you have a genetic risk, a new study published by the JAMA health journal revealed. The study analyzed data from 196,383 adults of European descent aged 60 and over. In this sample, researchers identified 1,769 cases of dementia over an eight-year follow-up period.
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.
Here's what they found: Participants with high genetic risk and an unfavorable lifestyle were almost three times more likely to develop dementia compared to those with low genetic risk and a favorable lifestyle. However, 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.
"This research delivers a very important message that undermines a fatalistic view of dementia," said co-lead author David Llewellyn, an associate professor at the University of Exeter's Faculty of Medicine and a member of the University of Toronto. Alan Turing Institute. "Some people believe that it is inevitable that they develop dementia because of their genetics." However, this research indicates that this may not be the case.
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Here's what to avoid: The study, released Monday by scientists from the University of Exeter and presented at the International Conference of the Alzheimer's Association 2019 in Los Angeles, examined four main signs of a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle. Those who were more likely to develop dementia reported having a healthier diet, high in fat, sugar and salt, not doing regular physical activity, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
Daily consumption of at least one artificially sweetened beverage was associated with a risk of developing a stroke or dementia almost three times higher.
A study conducted in 2017 revealed a fifth element to avoid: artificial sweeteners. "Daily drinking at least one artificially sweetened drink was associated with a risk of stroke or dementia almost three times higher than that of those who drink less than once a week", according to the report. study published in the journal of the American Heart Association "Stroke."
Beware of pharmacies: The researchers also found a statistically significant association between dementia and exposure to anticholinergics, especially antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiparkinson drugs, antiepileptics and antimuscarinics of the bladder, used for the treatment of drugs. Urinary incontinence, according to another study by JAMA Internal Medicine.
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A separate study published last month analyzed data from 284,343 patients in England aged 55 and over. They found "an increased likelihood of dementia by nearly 50%" related to exposure to more than 1095 daily doses of anticholinergics over 10 years, "the equivalent of three years of life. daily use of a single potent anticholinergic at the minimum effective dose recommended for the elderly. . "
"We found a greater increase in the risk associated with people with dementia before the age of 80, indicating that anticholinergics should be prescribed with caution in middle-aged and elderly people", wrote the researchers. Anticholinergic drugs block a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine in the nervous system.
A 2013 study by the New England Journal of Medicine found that the annual societal cost per person attributable to dementia in 2010 was $ 41,689 to $ 56,290, as calculated. The costs included nursing home care, personal expenses, home care and health insurance. A separate commentary on the invitation, also published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine, hailed the rigor of the new findings, but warned that more evidence was needed.
(Meera Jagannathan contributed to this story.)
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