Can lifestyles changes reduce Alzheimer’s risk?

A study published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy finds that intensive lifestyle changes can significantly improve cognition and function in patients with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. Study: Effects of intensive lifestyle changes on the progression of mild cognitive impairment or early dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease: a randomized, controlled clinical trial . Image Credit: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock Several lifestyle factors, including unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, smoking, obesity, diabetes, social isolation, and emotional stress, are known to trigger the onset and progression of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

A total of 12 potentially modifiable risk factors have been identified by a Lancet commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care, which are collectively responsible for about 40% of the global burden of dementia. Existing evidence indicates that consumption of high amounts of vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 38% and 60%, respectively. In contrast, consumption of saturated fats or trans-fats has been found to increase the Alzheimer’s disease risk by more than 2-folds.

Studies investigating lifestyle risk factors have found that multidomain lifestyle interventions are more effective than single-domain interventions in reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. A multimodal intervention of diet, exerc.