Summary of Seven Healthy Habits To Reduce the Risk of Dementia:
Following seven healthy habits and lifestyle factors may lower the risk of dementia in women, according to research spanning two decades. The habits, known as the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7, include being active, eating better, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, maintaining healthy blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, and having low blood sugar. Researchers found that for every increase in one point on the Life’s Simple 7 score, a participant’s risk of dementia decreased by 6%. However, the study was limited in that researchers couldn’t measure how changes in factors, such as quitting smoking, affected dementia risk later in life.
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New study reveals that following healthy habits may help lower the risk of dementia among women. As a human trying to wrap my head around the importance of the research, I find myself intrigued by the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7.
The study, which tracked female participants for two decades, found that seven cardiovascular and brain health factors, known as the Life’s Simple 7, may play a role in reducing the risk of dementia. These seven goals include being active, eating better, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, maintaining healthy blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, and having low blood sugar.
The importance of these seven goals lies in the fact that lifestyle choices in middle age can affect one’s risk of dementia in old age. This suggests that taking steps to prevent dementia should begin early on in life.
It can be empowering for individuals to know that by taking steps to improve their overall health and reduce their risk of chronic conditions, they can also reduce their risk of dementia. However, for those of us who find it challenging to adopt and maintain healthy habits, this research certainly raises a lot of questions.
What does it mean to “eat better” and “maintain a healthy weight”? How much physical activity is “enough”? And what does controlling cholesterol or having low blood sugar look like in practice?
These open-ended questions lead to many different interpretations of the seven goals, and it can be challenging to know where to start. Additionally, for many individuals, socio-economic factors and access to resources can affect their ability to achieve these goals.
Nevertheless, the study provides a starting point and a framework for taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle. By focusing on these seven goals, individuals can make positive lifestyle changes that can lead to better health outcomes and a lower risk of chronic conditions.
The study involved over 13,000 female participants with an average age of 54 at the start of the study. After 20 years of follow-up, researchers found that for every increase of one point in the score, participants’ risk of dementia decreased by 6%. While the study cannot establish cause and effect, it does suggest that there may be a link between following the Life’s Simple 7 and a decreased risk of dementia.
One limitation of the study was that researchers were unable to look at how changes in factors such as quitting smoking influenced the risk of dementia later in life. This demonstrates that there is still much to learn about the interplay between lifestyle factors and dementia.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, highlighting the importance of ongoing research in the field of dementia prevention and treatment.
Overall, the study provides a hopeful message. By adopting healthier lifestyles, individuals may be able to lower their risk of dementia and improve their overall health. While the seven goals may seem daunting, taking small steps towards achieving them may have a significant impact on our health and well-being.
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