Cohort Study | Association between a healthy lifestyle and memory decline in older adults

Summary: This study examined the association between a healthy lifestyle and memory decline in older adults over a 10-year period. The study included 29,072 participants aged 60 or older with normal cognition and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping at baseline. Six healthy lifestyle factors were assessed: a healthy diet, regular physical exercise, active social contact, active cognitive activity, never or former smoker, and never drinking alcohol. Participants were categorized into three groups based on their lifestyle factors: favorable, average, and unfavorable. The results showed that participants in the favorable group had slower memory decline than those in the unfavorable group, even in the presence of the APOE ε4 allele. These findings have important implications for public health initiatives to protect older adults against memory decline.

Article: Association between healthy lifestyle and memory decline in older adults: 10 year, population based, prospective cohort study – The BMJ

Editorial: Healthy lifestyles for dementia prevention – The BMJ

News Release: Healthy lifestyle linked to slower memory decline in older adults – BMJ Newsroom

Commentary: Healthful Lifestyle May Slow Memory Loss, Even for APOE Gene Carriers – JAMA

Commentary on Twitter

A healthy lifestyle is associated with slower memory decline, even in the presence of the [high risk] APOE ε4 allele.

Most to least impactful: diet, cognitive activity, physical exercise, active social contact, never/former smoking, & never drinking.https://t.co/j21cH2wyo6 pic.twitter.com/6qgd9bJ2Gr

— Joseph C. Watso, PhD (@Joseph_Watso) January 27, 2023

Under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ license