Scientists at the research hospital Baycrest in New York have determined that lifestyle factors may be even more important than we previously thought when it comes to dementia risk. They based their findings on extensive research comprehending over 22,000 participants between the ages of 18 and 89.
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People who are not exposed to (commonly reversible) risk factors like diabetes or smoking show comparable brain health to individuals aged ten to twenty years younger.
The study
The 22,000 participants took a 20-minute cognitive test over the internet containing various assignments focusing on elements such as attention and memory.
The scientists looked at the test results in relation to a diverse set of risk factors related to dementia, such as alcohol intake, hypertension, depression, and diabetes.
It turns out that each of these factors led to a diminishing of cognitive performance by up to 3 years of aging. If more than one of these factors was present, they add up linearly.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Annalise LaPlume, stated that overall, their study demonstrates that we have the power to decrease our own risk of dementia and cognitive decline in general.
Her principal recommendation is to start confronting any risk factors you encounter; it doesn't matter if you are 18 or 80 years old!.
The team published their research in the peer-reviewed science journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Disease Monitoring. Be sure to have a look if you are interested in more details.
Sources and further reading:
The adverse effect of modifiable dementia risk factors on cognition amplifies across the adult lifespan (Alzheimer's association)
What is the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia? (Universal-Sci)
Can the MIND diet really lower the risk of developing dementia and improve your brain health? (Universal-Sci)
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