MarioB.
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 Posted: 08/03/06 - 06:02 Post subject: Lifestyle factors predict dementia risk |
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Since there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimer's disease, it is very important to realize which things could postpone development of these disorders or even prevent them.
Swedish scientists are trying to develop a simple technique that would predict the risk of dementia later in life based on risk factors in middle age. The most common factors for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are life style factors like balanced diet and exercise.
The conclusion they came to is that midlife factors that include systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and body mass index could predict the risk of dementia in later life.
Scientists developed the risk score by analyzing 1,409 people who were assessed for signs of dementia at around 50 years of age and then again 20 years later. Dementia occurred in 4% of the people assessed. Those who had the highest risk scores, the risk of dementia was 16% while those with the lowest risk scores had only 1% dementia risk.
Risk factors determined for dementia were found to be similar to heart disease factors, so “what may be good for the heart may be good for the brain as well”. |
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