Two-thirds of Alzheimer’s disease cases attributed to 9 risk factors

Nine risk factors may explain two thirds of all Alzheimer’s disease cases, according to findings published in the “Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.”

The systemic review and meta-analysis evaluated the association between Alzheimer’s disease and potentially modifiable risk factors.  Those risk factors include:

• Obesity
• Carotid artery narrowing
• Low educational achievement
• Hyperhomocysteine
• Depression
• Hypertension
• Facility
• Current smoking
• Type 2 diabetes (diabetes only in Asian population).

“The current meta-analysis indicated that the effective interventions in diet, medications, biochemical exposures, psychological condition, pre-existing disease and lifestyle may be promising options for preventative strategies,” researchers conclude, cautioning more research is needed to understand their relationship to the disease.

Researchers cited a previous study found up to half of global Alzheimer’s disease cases could be attributed to seven modifiable risk factors including physical inactivity, obesity, smoking, diabetes, low education, depression and hyptertension.

Read more about the risk factors here.

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.