Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a nutritious diet, regular exercise, minimal alcohol consumption, and other healthy habits, can play a crucial role in keeping the brain sharp as one ages, according to doctors. However, what if the brain already exhibits signs of beta amyloid or tau, which are two hallmark signs of Alzheimer's and other brain pathologies? Will a healthy lifestyle still be able to protect against cognitive decline? A recent observational study suggests that the answer is yes.
The study involved autopsies of 586 individuals, whose brains were examined and compared with up to 24 years of lifestyle data. Lead author Dr. Klodian Dhana, an assistant professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging in Chicago, stated that "the lifestyle-cognition association was independent of Alzheimer's disease pathology burden, suggesting that a healthy lifestyle may provide cognitive benefits even for people who have begun to accumulate dementia-related pathologies in their brains."
In other words, the study found that even in the presence of Alzheimer's or other neurological disorders, a healthy lifestyle can still provide resilience against some of the most common causes of dementia. Dr. Richard Isaacson, director of research at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Florida, likens it to a video game where the lifestyle changes act as a powerful weapon against monsters like dementia.
The study tracked five healthy habits among the participants. Those who scored highly in all five categories were deemed to be living a low-risk or healthy lifestyle. These habits included not smoking, engaging in moderate to vigorous exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, limiting alcohol consumption to one drink per day for women and two for men, regularly stimulating the brain through activities like reading, visiting museums, and playing games, and following the Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, or MIND diet.
The MIND diet incorporates aspects of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, focusing on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, nuts, and olive oil. Red meat and sweets are consumed sparingly, while fish, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is a staple. The DASH diet, on the other hand, is designed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease and dementia.
By comparing lifestyle data with measures of pathology in the brain, such as beta-amyloid and tau levels, researchers found that for every increase in the healthy lifestyle score, there was a decrease in beta-amyloid load and an improvement in cognitive performance. These cognitive benefits were observed regardless of the presence of any neurological conditions. In fact, a higher healthy lifestyle score was associated with better cognition even after accounting for the combined burden of brain pathologies.
While the study does not establish a direct cause and effect relationship, it serves as an important step in understanding how lifestyle modifications can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Over 88% of a person's global cognition score was directly linked to their lifestyle, with less than 12% being influenced by the presence of beta-amyloid. This highlights the significant impact that adopting a healthy lifestyle can have on brain health.
In conclusion, leading a healthy lifestyle can help combat the signs of dementia, even in the presence of Alzheimer's or other brain pathologies. Engaging in healthy habits such as exercise, a nutritious diet, cognitive stimulation, and minimal alcohol consumption can provide the brain with resilience and protect against cognitive decline. While more research is needed to establish definitive cause and effect, these observations underscore the importance of a healthy lifestyle in maintaining optimal brain function throughout life.