Combination of Healthy Lifestyle Traits May Reduce Alzheimer's Risk by 60 Percent, Study Finds

A study in Neurology found that combining five healthy lifestyle habits could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by up to 60 percent, reports Fox 6 Now . The behaviors identified were physical activity, not smoking, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, a high-quality diet, and cognitive activities. Persons who followed four or all five habits had a 60 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's, while those who combined just two to three had a 37 percent lower risk versus those who did none or only one. Physical activity included at least 150 minutes weekly of moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise. "This observational study provides more evidence on how a combination of modifiable behaviors may mitigate Alzheimer's disease risk," said U.S. National Institute on Aging Director Richard J. Hodes. "The findings strengthen the association between healthy behaviors and lower risk, and add to the basis for controlled clinical trials to directly test the ability of interventions to slow or prevent development of Alzheimer's disease."