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Even if you are unlucky enough to carry the genes that predispose you to Alzheimer's disease, a healthy lifestyle can reduce that risk, according to new research.
The study tracked the evolution of genetics, lifestyles and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease from nearly 200,000 Britons over 60 years old for an average of eight years.
The researchers found that people with a high genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease and an unhealthy lifestyle were almost three times more likely to contract the disease than people with low genetic risk and a poor lifestyle. of healthy life.
Conversely, living well – exercising regularly, having a balanced diet, not smoking and drinking moderately – seemed to reduce the risk of Alzheimer 's disease, even in people at genetic risk. high.
A healthy population seems to reduce by 35% the chances of developing the disease, said a team led by David Llewellyn of the Faculty of Medicine at Exeter University in England.
This implies that "a case of dementia would be avoided for 121 people a year [every] The researchers reported July 14 in the Journal of the American Medical Association that the results had been presented simultaneously at the International Conference of the Alzheimer's Association in Los Angeles.
There was, however, a caveat: the UK Biobank database from which the data was obtained concerned only Whites of European descent; it is therefore difficult to know if the results could be applied to other populations.
Nevertheless, the results should give hope to people worried about their risk of Alzheimer's and encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, said an expert.
"No one can guarantee that you will escape this terrible disease," but a healthy lifestyle can certainly reduce the odds, said John Haaga, of the US National Institute on Aging, at the Associated Agency. Press.
In the British study, a "high genetic risk" was based on the presence of genes known to be associated with Alzheimer's disease, such as a particular form of the APOE gene. and another DNA more recently linked to the disease that steals the brain.
A "favorable lifestyle" was defined as people meeting the American Heart Association's exercise guidelines: 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise ; who did not smoke; ate a healthy diet for the heart; and did not drink more than an average of a glass of wine or beer a day.
Genes and lifestyle seem to have an impact on a person's chances of contracting Alzheimer's disease. As a person's "risk score" increased, his chances of contracting the disease also increased. In addition, the way of life became less and less healthy.
Of course, genes can not be changed, but the way of life can, Llewellyn and his group discovered.
They believe that a healthier lifestyle can stimulate cerebral blood flow. This could reduce the "oxidative damage" caused to brain cells and help prevent clots and inflammations that damage the brain and could increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Another expert said the new study proves that when it comes to Alzheimer's disease, genes are not necessarily destiny.
Rudy Tanzi is head of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Addressing to the AP, he pointed out that less than 5% of genes linked to Alzheimer's disease were so strongly linked with the disease that they would guarantee that you will catch the disease .
"That means that with 95% of the changes, your lifestyle will make the difference," said Tanzi. His advice: "Do not worry too much about your genetics – spend more time paying attention to living healthy lives."
The new study was partially funded by the National Institutes of Health of the United States.
More information
The Alzheimer's Association has tips for keeping your brain healthy.
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