Higher education and physical activity can prevent it.
A recent study conducted by the University of Copenhagen details the important link between genetic predisposition to poor lifestyle habits, such as smoking and high body mass index (BMI), and an increased risk of developing dementia. The study, which involved more than 400,000 European participants, used advanced genetic analysis to investigate modifiable risk factors and highlighted the importance of education and physical activity as preventive measures against the disease. .
Dementia is a chronic, debilitating disease characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function, and its prevalence continues to increase worldwide. Understanding its root causes is essential for prevention and early detection of this disease. The study, published as a preliminary report, focused on individual-level genomic data to establish causal links between various poor lifestyle habits and dementia.
The researchers used a substantial genomic dataset from the UK Biobank, consisting of approximately 409,000 British participants of European descent. They collected comprehensive data including genetic information, baseline measurements, and self-reported behavioral habits such as smoking and physical activity. Preexisting medical conditions were classified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes.
In a study cohort comprised of 53.7% women with a median age of 59 years, dementia was found to be more prevalent in men than women. Initial observations showed that 13.2% of participants reported ischemic heart disease, 1.7% were diagnosed with all-cause dementia, 0.9% with Alzheimer’s disease, and 0.4% with vascular dementia. .
The research team calculated each participant’s polygenic risk score (PRS) to assess genetic predisposition to these risk factors, and found that smoking, high BMI, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and high and low density lipoproteins (LDL ) discovered that cholesterol is genetically predicted. , high triglycerides all significantly increased the risk of developing various forms of dementia.
Researchers also revealed that both education and physical activity over time provide protective factors against both vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The findings suggest that genetically predicted higher levels of physical activity may reduce the risk of developing this type of dementia by as much as 42%.
Despite significant advances in dementia research, the causal relationship between lifestyle factors and dementia outcomes remains often controversial. Many studies have attempted to clarify these associations, but are limited by a lack of age-specific data and have yielded conflicting results. As a result, much of the existing literature to date has relied on observational evidence with limited clinical validation. However, the use of Mendelian randomization in the new study strengthens the evidence base by establishing a clearer causal relationship between lifestyle choices and dementia risk and more accurately predicting the association between the two. Strengthen.
This study advocates behavioral interventions to lower the risk of dementia by focusing on modifiable factors, with particular emphasis on higher education and increased physical activity. As we learn more about genetic relationships with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, these insights could inform effective public health strategies to minimize the number of new infections each year.
source:
Genetic analysis shows smoking and high BMI increase dementia risk, but education and exercise protect against dementia risk
Modifiable risk factors for dementia: causal inference from individual-level data by Jiao Luo, Ida Juul Rasmussen, Jesper Qvist Thomassen, Ruth Frikke-Schmidt :: SSRN
