Scientists looked at the demographics, lifestyle and post-mortem information of 586 patients. This includes details of diet, cognitive function before death, and lifestyle factors such as alcohol intake and physical activity.
70.8% of patients were female and lived to an average age of 90.9 years. Their brain autopsies were examined for physical signs associated with dementia, such as the buildup of amyloid plaques that destroy cell function in the brain and are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Among all patients, higher healthy lifestyle scores in five areas: diet, late-life cognitive activity, physical activity, smoking cessation, and low alcohol intake were associated with better cognitive function before death. This association held even when autopsy showed signs of brain changes consistent with dementia.
Overall, a one-point increase in lifestyle score was associated with improved cognition.
The analysis suggests that a healthy lifestyle may increase people's “cognitive reserve” and allow patients to remain sharp despite brain changes, researchers say. are writing.
Lifestyle factors such as diet and nutrition may protect the brain from inflammation and oxidative stress, the researchers wrote. Most patients in the study sample were white, and the researchers note that lifestyle information was self-reported.
This analysis “is an important step forward” in addressing questions about the relationship between lifestyle, brain changes, and cognition, the two researchers wrote in a companion editorial in JAMA Neurology. They suggest prescribing lifestyle factors alongside Alzheimer's drugs and call for further research examining dementia risk reduction in diverse groups.
