Are Certain Lifestyle Habits Associated with Lower Alzheimer's Disease Risk?

Abstract

As the number of patients with Alzheimer disease is expected to grow, finding ways to prevent and lower the risk of Alzheimer disease becomes a crucial matter. Risk factors for developing AD have been identified including health conditions, dietary habits, genetics and heredity, gender, education, age, and lifestyle. Interventions targeted at some of these risk factors may offer opportunities for development of an optimal preventive strategy. Life style habits which include dietary habits and physical activities appear to have positive effect on modifying many risk factors. Studies have shown controversial results when it comes to the relation between the adherence to a Mediterranean diet and /or physical activity and the incidence of Alzheimer disease. Many population-based studies reported the positive association between antioxidants intake (like Vitamin E and C), and polyunsaturated fatty acids whether it is from the diet or supplements on the cognitive performance. Future investigations should aim to determine objectively whether lifestyle modification through diet, exercise, or vitamins/supplements truly exert risk reduction or outright prevention. In this review, life-style habits are reviewed as they pertain to influence on risk of developing AD as well as on cognitive decline. Epidemiological studies and animal studies are reviewed.

Prevention of Alzheimer's disease: The role of the Mediterranean diet

“…In fact, these factors exert more influence on the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease than genetics 24 . Proof of this is recent research that showed that older immigrants living in the United States have a higher prevalence of Alzheimer's disease than individuals living in their countries of origin 25 .…”

“…Adherence to the MeDi also reduces the risk of developing MCI and conversion of MCI to Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that early intervention may even reduce the risk of developing the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease 25,27 . A study from the Mayo Clinic found that higher intake of vegetables and higher unsaturated/saturated fatty acids ratio reduced the risk of MCI 14 .…”

“…Moderate intake of wine, particularly during meals, is one of the hallmarks of the MeDi 25 . An increasing amount of evidence suggests that moderate drinkers (one glass/day for women and two glasses/day for men) have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and better cognitive performance than non-drinkers 8,25 .…”

“…These disease-modifying factors have been object of much research in recent years given that interventions that alter their course constitute potential preventive measures 19,25 . Therefore, when motivated and supported by health professionals, individuals can use lifestyle options to influence their late-life cognitive performance and risk of brain disorders 10,15,26 .…”

“…Nevertheless, the most well-known version was presented in the 1990s by Dr. Walter Willet of Harvard University's School of Public Health, and a scientific consensus has been achieved 13,14 . Thus, the traditional MeDi consists of high intake of plant-based foods (fruit as the typical daily dessert, vegetables, legumes, breads, and other types of grains and nuts), olive oil as the major source of monounsaturated fatty acids (used in cooking and salad dressing), low intake of saturated fat, moderately high intake of fish, depending on proximity to the sea, as a source of omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA), low to moderate intake of dairy products (mostly cheese and yogurt), low to moderate intake of poultry, regular low to moderate intake of wine (normally during meals), low intake of red meat, and a maximum of four eggs weekly 4,6,14,25,31 .…”