New research has highlighted that living a healthy lifestyle may
help offset a person’s genetic risk of dementia.
The research, published today in JAMA(1) and presented at the
Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2019 in Los
Angeles, from the University of Exeter, found that the risk of
dementia was 32 per cent lower in people with a high genetic risk
if they had followed a healthy lifestyle, compared to those who
had an unhealthy lifestyle.
Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at Alzheimer’s
Society, commented: “From research we supported, we know that a
third of dementia cases could be prevented through lifestyle
changes. This study takes our understanding a step further,
showing that healthy behaviours can help even in people who have
a higher risk due to their genes.
“This is a well-powered and thoughtfully designed study that
starts to tease apart the complex interplay between our genes and
lifestyle choices when it comes to dementia risk. Its strengths
include using a combination of known Alzheimer’s risk genes to
get a more accurate indication of genetic risk and its large
sample size made possible through UK Biobank.
“Dementia is the most feared condition in the over 50s.
Unsurprisingly, one of the most frequent questions we get asked
is whether someone who has watched their parent develop dementia,
will go on to develop it too.
“Reassuringly, this study suggests that, even if you have a high
genetic risk of developing dementia, adopting risk reducing
techniques like eating well, not smoking, drinking less alcohol
and keeping active can significantly reduce your risk of
developing dementia. With one person developing dementia every
three minutes in the UK, knowing how to lower our dementia risk
couldn’t be more vital. So hit that salad bar, swap a cocktail
for a mocktail and get your exercise kit on!”
