Lifestyle Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk

Researchers in the US have announced new findings which highlight factors that could affect the risk of memory problems as we age.

The investigators analysed data from the Einstein Aging Study, a project which has monitored the memory and thinking ability of older people living in a particular borough of New York since the 1980s. Scientists presented a number of findings based on work done with the Einstein Ageing Study at this week’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Washington, D.C.

Much of the work relates to amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) – memory and thinking problems which are less severe than dementia but often precede the condition. It can be difficult to distinguish normal age-related memory changes from aMCI, and doctors need new ways to reliably identify people with the condition. The researchers suggested that subtle differences in an aspect of memory called memory binding could help identify healthy older people at a higher risk of developing aMCI and dementia. They found that people with lower scores on the Memory Biding Test could be 2.5 times more likely to develop aMCI. The presentations also highlighted research suggesting that certain people who feel more stressed, and individuals with poorer coping skills may be at an increased risk of developing aMCI.

Other research with the Einstein Aging Study aimed to determine whether rates of dementia might be changing over time. Looking at people in the study born between 1916 and 1935, the researchers showed that those born after 1930 had an 18% reduction in their risk of developing dementia – indicating that dementia rates could be falling. They propose that this lower risk may be due to improvements in the way high blood pressure or diabetes are managed, both risk factors for dementia.

This image is a pencil drawing of two elderly ladies.
he researchers suggested that subtle differences in an aspect of memory called memory binding could help identify healthy older people at a higher risk of developing aMCI and dementia. Image is for illustrative purposes only.

Dr Eric Karran, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK said:

“This work with the Einstein Aging Study highlights some interesting areas for future research. Studies that follow large groups of people over long periods of time are important as they allow researchers to unpick lifestyle factors that can affect brain health as people get older, and reveal how the impact of dementia might be changing over time. Alzheimer’s Research UK is proud to be investing £3m in a longitudinal study looking at the risk factors for dementia in the UK’s longest running birth cohort.

“Previous large scale research studies have shown that eating a balanced diet, drinking in moderation, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in check, and staying mentally and physically active can all help to lower our risk of memory problems as we age. While it will never be possible to completely prevent dementia, if everyone was encouraged to adopt these positive lifestyle choices, we could expect to see a reduction in the proportion of people who develop dementia.”

About this Alzheimer’s disease research

Source: Alzheimer’s Research UK
Image Credit: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: The research will be presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Washington, D.C. during the week of July 21, 2015

Feel free to share this neuroscience news.
Join our Newsletter
I agree to have my personal information transferred to AWeber for Neuroscience Newsletter ( more information )
Sign up to receive our recent neuroscience headlines and summaries sent to your email once a day, totally free.
We hate spam and only use your email to contact you about newsletters. You can cancel your subscription any time.
  1. I believe stress is the worst and being sad and depressed make you un conscience shut out the outside world every day a little bit.

  2. more bullshit. every time they write an article on what causes dementia, with different causes in each article, it’s all speculation based on nothing. my grandmother never had high blood pressure, diabetes, a head injury, didn’t smoke, wasn’t fat, was physically and mentally active, and she still got dementia. whereas I know people who are well into their 90s, ate what they wanted, didn’t exercise, were uneducated and poor and their mind is sharp as a tack.

    1. not really, there are people that are like your grandma and still are very sharp very alert very bright well into their 90’s

    2. chiefy, this is not a study to determine the causes of dementia. this is an epidemiological study to look for lifestyles that are associated with either a higher or lower incidence of age-related cognitive impairment. studies such as this one are the basis for further work and are not designed nor properly interpreted to impute causation.

Comments are closed.