Healthy living may cancel out genetic risk of dementia
Genetic associations to dementia are fairly common, but new research from the University of Exeter Medical School in England shows that a healthy lifestyle may reduce this risk. Those with a high genetic risk who followed a healthy lifestyle were observed to offset that risk by 32%, but were almost three times more likely to develop dementia when compared to those with a low genetic risk and favourable lifestyle.
The study documented data from 196,383 adults of European ancestry aged 60 and older from UK and identified over 1,760 cases of dementia. The research team grouped these participants into high, intermediate and low genetic risk classes – each genetic risk factor was weighted according to the strength of its association with Alzheimer’s disease.
Then, to assess lifestyle, researchers grouped participants based on their self-reported diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption. No current smoking, regular physical activity, a healthy diet and moderate alcohol consumption were characterised as healthy behaviours.
Upon completion of the study, the team found that living a healthy lifestyle was associated with a reduced dementia risk across all genetic risk groups.
Dr. Elżbieta Kuźma, from the university, is elated, “Our findings show that we can take action to try to offset our risk for dementia, regardless of genetics.”
This was similarly reiterated by Dr. David Llewellyn, of the UK’s Alan Turing Institute, “Some people believe developing dementia is inevitable because of their genes – a fatalistic view of dementia. However, it appears that you may be able to substantially reduce your dementia risk by living a healthy lifestyle.”
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