Healthy Lifestyle Linked to Longer Life without Dementia

A US prospective cohort study showed that a healthy lifestyle was associated with a longer life expectancy, and a larger proportion of their remaining years without Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). The study included 2449 participants aged 65 years and older (mean 76 years, 63% women, African American>50%) from 1993 to 2009, 2110 free of AD at baseline. A healthy lifestyle score was developed based on five modifiable lifestyle factors: a diet for brain health, late life cognitive activities, moderate or vigorous physical activity, no smoking, and light to moderate alcohol consumption. Women aged 65 with 4 or 5 healthy factors had a life expectancy of 24.2 years and lived 3.1 years longer than women aged 65 with 0 or 1 healthy factor (life expectancy 21.1 years). Of the total life expectancy at age 65, women with 4 or 5 healthy factors spent 10.8% (2.6 years) of their remaining years with AD, whereas women with 0 or 1 healthy factor spent 19.3% (4.1 years) with the disease. Life expectancy for women aged 65 without AD and 4 or 5 healthy factors was 21.5 years, and for those with 0 or 1 healthy factor it was 17.0 years. Men aged 65 with 4 or 5 healthy factors had a total life expectancy of 23.1 years, which is 5.7 years longer than men aged 65 with 0 or 1 healthy factor (life expectancy 17.4 years). Of the total life expectancy at age 65, men with 4 or 5 healthy factors spent 6.1% (1.4 years) of their remaining years with AD, and those with 0 or 1 healthy factor spent 12.0% (2.1 years) with AD. Life expectancy for men aged 65 without AD and 4 or 5 healthy factors was 21.7 years, and for those with 0 or 1 healthy factor life expectancy was 15.3 years. The findings are consistent with previous studies and support that a healthy lifestyle could increase life expectancy and decrease AD risk. Source: https://www.bmj.com/