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TUESDAY, July 21, 2020<\/p>\n
Ten risk factors may affect your risk of developing Alzheimer’s<\/a> disease, a new Chinese study suggests.<\/p>\n Focusing on these factors could help doctors develop guidelines for preventing Alzheimer’s<\/a>, researchers say. The risk factors include mental activity, obesity<\/a> in late life, depression<\/a>, diabetes<\/a> and high blood pressure<\/a>.<\/p>\n The need is urgent: Alzheimer’s<\/a> is the most common form of dementia<\/a> in older people. More than 5 million Americans 65 and older have the disease and the number is expected to nearly triple by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s<\/a> Association.<\/p>\n For this study, researchers reviewed nearly 400 studies in search of ways to prevent it. Dr. Jin-Tai Yu, professor of neurology at Fudan University in Shanghai, led the search.<\/p>\n His team proposed 21 prevention<\/a> strategies that doctors could use in their practice. Nearly two-thirds of them target risk factors such as high blood pressure<\/a> and cholesterol<\/a> and lifestyle.<\/p>\n Researchers said 10 suggestions are supported by strong evidence. They include getting as much education as possible in early life; taking part in mentally stimulating activities, such as reading; and avoiding diabetes<\/a>, stress<\/a>, depression<\/a>, head trauma<\/a> and high blood pressure<\/a> in midlife.<\/p>\n Nine other suggestions had less evidence to support them. They included getting regular exercise<\/a> and good quality sleep<\/a>, maintaining a healthy body weight and good heart<\/a> health in later life, not smoking<\/a> and getting vitamin C<\/a> in the diet<\/a>.<\/p>\n Two interventions were not recommended — estrogen replacement<\/a> therapy and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, drugs<\/a> that increase communication between nerve cells.<\/p>\n Though these suggestions may make sense, researchers said following them doesn’t guarantee they will prevent Alzheimer’s.<\/p>\n “This study provides an advanced and contemporary survey of the evidence, suggesting that more high-quality observational prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to strengthen the evidence base for uncovering more promising approaches to preventing Alzheimer’s disease,” they wrote.<\/p>\n The findings were published July 20 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry<\/i>.<\/p>\n — Steven Reinberg<\/p>\n ![\"MedicalNews\"](\"https:\/\/images.medicinenet.com\/images\/HealthDay\/healthday.png\")
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