How to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease Part 2

Vindication is sweet.  Two months ago, I commented on a review published in the Archives of Neurology that concluded that "insufficient evidence exists to draw firm conclusions on the association of any modifiable factors with risk".  Well, in a study published yesterday online in Lancet Neurologyy to coincide with its presentation at the Alzheimer's Association 2011 International Conference (AAIC), formerly known as ICAD, short for International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, the authors concluded that it is in fact possible to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by modifying just 7 factors:  diabetes, midlife hypertension, midlife obesity, smoking, depression, cognitive inactivity low educational attainment, and physical inactivity.

Through a series of statistical manipulations reviewing much of the data available to the National Institute on Aging last year, they noted that up to half (greater than 17 million) of the cases of Alzheimer's disease worldwide are attributable to the above 7 risk factors.  They then went on to state that a population-wide reduction of all 7 risk factors by 10-25% could potentially decrease the number of cases worldwide by 1-3 million.

All told, smoking & low educational attainment accounted for the largest number of AD cases worldwide.  In the States, physical inactivity accounted for the majority of cases.  Note, too, that physical activity is also associated with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and even depression.  From a public health standpoint, we need to focus our on limited resources on education, physical activity and smoking cessation.  Healthy living is good for more than just a healthy body; it just might prevent Alzheimer's disease.  It's nice to know I'm not the only who interprets the available data this way.