That gym membership may pay off more than you know. We have known for a long time that exercise and low-fat diets can reduce your cardiovascular risk and reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. A recent study has now suggested that a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, minimal alcohol intake, not smoking, and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with better cognitive ability in older people.
This study followed almost 600 patients for 25 years and included annual cognitive tests and postmortem brain pathology. Remarkably, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle were evident even in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and the postmortem analysis showed reduced amounts of beta-amyloid (the protein found deposited in the brain of AD patients. Included in the activities recorded were cognitive stimulating activities including playing card games, checkers, and reading.
The result is exciting because it offers another modifiable risk factor for dementia that can work along with medications to improve patient outcomes. Further study is needed to determine how healthy lifestyle improves cognition. The prevailing theory is that antioxidants and anti-inflammatory functions are responsible for the benefits.
BeCare Neuro App can help you assess your cognitive health so that you can be proactive in seeking evaluation and treatment if necessary.
Reference:
JAMA Neurology. Healthy Lifestyle Linked to Better Cognition in Later Life – Medscape – February 08, 2024.