There are just three main things you need to worry about when it comes to preventing dementia, a review suggests.
Over the years everything from what time you go to bed to how much alcohol you drink has been linked to the memory robbing disorder. But by looking at data from more than 20,000 older adults over 30 years, researchers found three lifestyle factors demonstrably outweighed all others.
Not having a hobby, being obese and being sedentary after age 60 were the biggest predictors of who went on to develop the disorder. They also found that Americans who lived in the South were more likely to develop the condition, even after adjusting for factors like income.
"This work provides additional evidence about actions that individuals can take to pursue a lifestyle that promotes brain health across the lifespan," said Peter Hudomiet, an economist who led the study.
Writing in the study, he added: "Other lifestyle and health behavior factors are not strong predictors of dementia, such as smoking, checking cholesterol levels, having flu shots, and getting mammograms, pap smears, and breast or prostate exams."
The scientists suggest that learning about your risk factors could help people stave off age-related decline. Actor Chris Hemsworth has moved to do so after discovering he had a higher likelihood of developing dementia while filming a documentary. He's since focused on sleep, stress management, nutrition and fitness.
Research has suggested that nearly 10 percent of adults over age 65 may have dementia - representing more than 7 million people. This number is likely going to grow if current trends continue - affecting an estimated 12 million people by 2040.
The research was conducted by the RAND Corporation and funded by Genentech. It included three separate studies focused on what factors put people at higher risk for dementia and how they respond to it.
- The first study used a survey tracking over 20,000 older adults since 1992 called the Health and Retirement Study. It asked about daily habits including hobbies like chess or gardening.
- The second looked at how people respond when diagnosed with dementia; many sought financial help or prepared wills more often than those without diagnosis.
- The third studied barriers to treatment; cost was significant with many willing only if testing was free or inexpensive.
"Assessments provided individuals with information that may facilitate actions to prepare for the future," said Susann Rohwedder from RAND.