Scientists suggest that three daily habits can add more than a decade to your brain health.
New research indicates that controlling your blood pressure, avoiding diabetes, and quitting smoking between the ages of 45 and 65 could help you stay dementia-free for an additional 13 years.
A recent study published in the journal Neurology aimed to measure how managing these risk factors in midlife impacts long-term brain health.
High blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking are known associations with cognitive decline, but their specific influence on dementia incidence is not entirely clear.
Researchers at New York University (NYU) followed over 12,000 dementia-free individuals at age 55 to assess the impact of these risk factors over an average of 26 years.
Those without any midlife risk factors lived about 13 years longer without dementia than those with all three risk factors.
Additionally, women and white participants lived longer without dementia compared to men and black participants, respectively.
Previous research identified 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia, suggesting that addressing these risks could prevent or delay nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization, 57 million people globally will have dementia in 2021, with almost 10 million new cases each year.
Study principal investigator Joseph Koresh, Ph.D., emphasized the importance of avoiding these risk factors in midlife to maintain brain health for over a decade.
The study highlights an association between health factors and dementia risk, urging individuals to take action in maintaining their brain health through lifestyle choices.
Professor Harper emphasizes that while genetics play a role, behaviors like diet, physical activity, and smoking can heavily influence blood pressure and diabetes, making them modifiable factors by individuals to reduce dementia risk.
The study serves as a reminder of the public health message to prioritize brain health through healthy habits.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
