Lifestyle can influence the chances of suffering cognitive decline, and can even modify the risk in those with a greater genetic predisposition. Thus, a recent study allows us to state that having Alzheimer’s not only depends on your genes, but habits also influence.
Seven habits that can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s
According to the American Heart Association there seven factors or habits that promote cardiovascular and brain health, helping, among other things, to reduce the risk of dementia.
These seven habits are:
- Keep active
- Eat Healthy
- Lose weight
- No Smoking
- Maintain a healthy blood pressure
- control cholesterol
- Reduce blood glucose.
To evaluate your impact on people with high genetic risk of suffering from dementia, a study was conducted that analyzed more than 8,800 people of European descent and more than 2,700 individuals of African descent, who were followed for 30 years.
Scores between zero and fourteen were established to assess the presence of these seven life habitswith zero being the least healthy score and fourteen being the healthiest.
The results revealed that people with the highest scores on lifestyle factors had a lower risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s even with a genetic predisposition.
The probability of suffering from Alzheimer’s was reduced by up to 43% when the aforementioned habits were present, despite having a high genetic risk.
In conclusion having Alzheimer’s doesn’t just depend on your genes, but habits also influence.
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