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We would all like to age well remaining cognitively active into older and old age. I have reported multiple times on activities that are correlated with better, or worse cognition, and risk of neurodegeneration in older age but this group of researchers analysed those with Type 2 diabetes and also those without.
What conclusions did they come to?
Well, the researchers around Bin Wang for the American Academy of Neurology analysed data from 167,946 people 60 or older from a UK-based database with, and without diabetes, and who did not have dementia at the start of the study. They were followed for 12 years and 4’351 developed dementia
Based on the data, results of questionnaires, and blood tests, they managed to identify seven (healthy) habits that seem to dramatically reduce chances of developing dementia and can put figures to the increased or reduced risk.
The seven healthy habits are:
- No smoking
- Moderate alcohol consumption (up to one drink a day for women and up to two a day for men)
- Regular weekly physical activity (at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise)
- Seven to nine hours sleep daily
- Healthy diet including more fruits, vegetables, whole…
