How to drastically slash your odds of getting Alzheimer’s – even if your genes mean you’re likely destined to get memory-robbing disease

By William On May 7, 2024

Alzheimer’s disease affects the lives of millions of people around the world, but scientists are now beginning to understand what causes the cruel disease and how it can be prevented.

Researchers today discovered that almost all individuals with two copies of a certain gene called APOE4 develop signs of the memory-robbing disorder.

The quirk – worn by Avengers star Chris Hemsworth – causes more than 95 percent of people aged 65 and over with two copies of the APOE4 gene to show early signs of the disease, Spanish scientists have found.

However, experts say that only one in a hundred cases of the memory-robbing disease is caused by genes. In fact, it is thought that approximately 80 percent of Alzheimer’s cases are preventable.

Here, MailOnline reveals the lifestyle choices that can reduce your risk of developing the memory-robbing disease.

It’s thought that about 80 percent of Alzheimer’s disease cases could be preventable, with some lifestyle changes that help reduce the risk

Do not smoke

Quitting smoking significantly reduces your risk of lung disease, heart disease and stroke, according to the NHS.

But it can also reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, studies show.

That’s because smoking increases the risk of vascular problems, which are also linked to Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia is caused by a reduced amount of blood flow to the brain, which deprives the brain cells of oxygen and the nutrients they need to work properly. Blood flow in the brain can also be affected in Alzheimer’s disease, explains Alzheimer’s Society.

Cigarettes also release more than 5,000 chemicals when burned, many of which are toxic. These toxins found in cigarette smoke can cause inflammation and stress in the cells, both of which have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

However, because there are so many chemicals in cigarettes, it is unclear which ones cause the harm, the charity explains.

Authors of The World Alzheimer’s Report in 2014 said there is a significantly increased risk of current smokers developing dementia compared to those who have never smoked.

More recently inside 2020Smoking was highlighted as one of the most important risk factors for dementia in the Lancet Commission on dementia risk. Researchers estimate that there is a 30 to 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia if you smoke.

Smoking increases the risk of vascular problems, which are also linked to Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia

Drink less alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption has been shown to increase the risk of developing dementia.

Current NHS guidelines state that you should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week. Drinking too much increases your risk of damage to your organs, including your brain.

Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to decreased volume of white matter in the brain, which helps transmit signals between brain regions.

If the signals aren’t relayed properly, the brain will struggle to function properly, Alzheimer’s Society explains.

Drinking too much can also result in a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine), which increases the body’s ability to convert food into energy.

A deficiency in this vitamin can also affect your short-term memory, Alzheimer’s Society adds.

What is the APO dementia gene? And how do you know if you have it?

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, the development of the disease is not directly linked to a single genetic change.

But in recent decades, nearly twenty different genes have been identified that may play a role.

One of these, the APOE gene, is the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Everyone has two versions of the gene: one inherited from their mother and one from their father.

About 75 percent of people have the APOE2 or APOE3 varieties, which are not linked to the cruel disease. Some studies have even suggested that they have a protective effect.

About 20 percent have one copy of APOE4, while between 3 and 5 percent of people have two copies.

Top neurological scientists estimate that between 40 and 65 percent of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s have the APOE4 variant, whether one or two copies.

But they emphasize that those who inherit two copies of the APOE4 variant will not definitely develop Alzheimer’s disease.

The gene influences the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but is not a cause.

Researchers believe there is no single cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Instead, it is likely caused by multiple risk factors, including genetics, lifestyle and environment.

Alzheimer’s experts are still divided over whether testing for the gene is useful for most people.

For this reason there are no tests available on the NHS.

Only those who have a clear family history and pattern of Alzheimer’s that affects every generation at a young age may be eligible for similar diagnostic genetic testing, including a blood test.

Experts also warn that the results of tests purchased online are not always as accurate as they seem.

It is thought that reducing alcohol consumption in mid-life could minimize the risk of developing age-related conditions such as frailty and dementia. NICE guidelines.

Spending time with friends

It is believed that meeting friends and staying social reduces your chances of developing dementia.

Participating in social activities such as volunteering, joining a class, playing music or doing crafts as a group are all thought to boost what experts call your brain’s cognitive reserve.

This is a term experts use to describe the organ’s ability to cope with conditions that damage it, relieve stress and improve mood, explains Alzheimer’s Society.

The charity adds that listening to someone in a conversation, finding the right way to express yourself and remembering things that have happened are all ways to exercise your mental skills.

According to the charity, social isolation is thought to increase the risk of dementia by 60 percent.

a 2019 research showed that social contact had a ‘protective effect’ against dementia.

Researchers measured the social contact of 10,000 participants aged 35 to 55 with non-cohabiting family members and friends six times over 17 years.

They found that people with frequent social contact had higher cognitive reserve, suggesting they are less likely to develop dementia.

Stay active

Going to the gym, going for a run, or even taking a long walk can help prevent you from developing dementia.

That’s because vigorous aerobic activity, such as running, helps keep your heart, lungs and circulation healthy, which is good for brain health.

Experts estimate that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by about 28 percent. For Alzheimer’s disease specifically, the risk is reduced by about 45 percent, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.

a 2013 A study into the health behavior of more than 2,000 Welsh men aged 45 and 59, who followed them for 35 years, found that regular exercise reduced their risk of dementia by 13 percent.

Although these men also did not smoke, had a moderate alcohol intake and were a healthy weight, the level of exercise appeared to have the greatest effect on reducing the risk of dementia, according to the Cardiff University researchers.

The participants who checked all these lifestyle boxes reduced their risk of dementia by 60 percent.

Vigorous aerobic activity, such as running, helps keep your heart, lungs and circulation healthy, which is good for brain health

However, if running isn’t your thing, a brisk walk and daily activities like cleaning, gardening and cooking also keep your body active and help reduce your risk of the disease, says the Alzheimer’s Society.

Brush and floss your teeth

Keeping up with oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your pearly white teeth can also prevent dementia and tooth decay.

It may sound strange, but experts have discovered a link between the bacteria and the subsequent inflammation caused by gum disease, with the build-up of amyloid proteins.

These proteins are linked to Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

a 2020 Research in the US suggested that people with gum disease and oral infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

However, scientists have yet to find out whether the bacteria help cause the condition or whether gum disease and tooth loss are simply more common in people in the early stages of dementia.

Another possible factor is that people with poor oral hygiene habits that lead to gum disease may also be unhealthier overall and may be at greater risk of developing dementia due to other factors.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological conditions, that is, conditions that affect the brain.

There are many different types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.

Some people may have a combination of dementias.

Regardless of which type is diagnosed, everyone will experience their dementia in their own unique way.

Dementia is a global problem, but it is most common in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live to a very old age.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?

The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are currently more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK, with around two in three of them having Alzheimer’s disease.

The number of people in Britain with dementia is expected to rise to 1.6 million people by 2040.

There are an estimated 5.5 million people in the US with Alzheimer’s disease. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.

As a person’s age increases, so does the risk that he or she will develop dementia.

The number of diagnoses is increasing, but it is believed that many people with dementia are still undiagnosed.

IS THERE A TREATMENT?

There is currently no medicine against dementia.

But new medications can slow its progression and the sooner it is caught, the more effective the treatments are.

Source: Dementia Britain