Healthy lifestyle can help cut Alzheimer risk
July 19th, 2011 - 8:25 pm ICT by IANSLondon, July 19 (IANS) Simple lifestyle changes and more exercises can help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, which over the time affects memory, thinking and behaviour.
According to a study, over half of the world’s 17 million cases were preventable.
Presently, there are over 800,000 victims of dementia in Britain alone, the Daily Express reported. Experts predict the number will triple in four decades.
The findings suggest that low education is the biggest factor in determining whether a person develops the disease.
Other factors include depression, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Researchers analysed hundreds of thousands of people. Their results, published in journal Lancet Neurology, are based on the assumption that each risk factor contributes towards the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Study author Deborah Barnes, from San Francisco VA Medical Centre, said: “Over half of all Alzheimer’s disease cases could potentially be prevented through lifestyle changes and treatment or prevention of chronic medical conditions.”
Smoking, physical inactivity, depression, mid-life hypertension, diabetes and mid-life obesity contribute to the problem.
“Together, these risk factors are associated with up to 51 percent of Alzheimer’s cases worldwide or 17.2 million cases,” she said.
- Simple lifestyle changes can prevent Alzheimer's - Jul 19, 2011
- Midlife crisis could be linked with dementia - May 08, 2012
- Dementia linked to midlife weight crisis - May 03, 2011
- Obesity may be linked to dementia - Mar 07, 2011
- High levels of 'good' cholesterol linked to lower risk of Alzheimer's - Dec 14, 2010
- Bilingualism can delay onset of Alzheimer's symptoms by 5 yrs: Study - Nov 09, 2010
- Bilingualism can delay onset of Alzheimer's symptoms: Study - Nov 10, 2010
- Depression 'doubles dementia risk' - Jul 06, 2010
- Weight loss secures lasting benefits - Aug 03, 2012
- Study: Smoking doubles the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia - Oct 27, 2010
- Keeping busy, eating healthy 'can keep dementia at bay' - Aug 06, 2010
- Major depression more than doubles dementia risk in diabetic adults - Mar 06, 2010
- Irregular heart beat plus stroke may increase dementia risk - Mar 08, 2011
- Researchers chalk out Alzheimer's prevention plan - Jun 15, 2010
- Healthy heart = healthy brain; smoking linked to dementia - Aug 07, 2009
Tags: assumption, chronic medical conditions, daily express, deborah barnes, dementia, half of the world, healthy lifestyle, high blood pressure, hundreds of thousands, hypertension, journal lancet, lancet neurology, lifestyle changes, medical centre, mid life, obesity researchers, physical inactivity, risk factor, risk factors, study author