Adhering to just seven healthy habits may almost halve your chance of developing dementia, a study suggests.
Managing blood pressure and blood sugar, controlling cholesterol, staying active, eating healthily, staying slim and not smoking lowered the risk by up to 43 per cent.
These lifestyle choices were just as effective in people with a genetic predisposition to the condition.
Known as the 'American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7', the habits had all been linked to a lower risk of dementia previously.
The measures include a diet rich in vegetables, fruit and nuts to boost your heart health, while avoiding sugary drinks and fatty or processed meats.
Another is to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, as well as maintaining a healthy body mass index.
Stopping smoking was also crucial, the experts said, advising people to either quit cold turkey or use nicotine replacement products like patches.
To measure the influence of the habits, researchers from the University of Mississippi looked at the medical records of almost 12,000 people in their 50s over three decades.
Lead author of the study Professor Adrienne Tin said: 'The good news is that even for people who are at the highest genetic risk, living by this same healthier lifestyle are likely to have a lower risk of dementia.'
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit