Health & Medicine
Alzheimer's Disease: Lifestyle Changes Help Reduce Disease In High-Risk Patients
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Oct 27, 2015 07:05 PM EDT
There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease--the most common form of dementia. Yet certain lifestyle changes could help to reduce risk, according to recent findings published in Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders.
Researchers found that risk of cognitive deficits were highest in those with high cholesterol and/or heart disease. They specifically examined the protein ApoE, which holds a critical role in the metabolism of blood lipids. The protein, which stands for apolipoprotein E, transports cholesterol to nerve cells that later require signal exchange. However, carriers of E4 allele--one of the three alleles of the ApoE gene--are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's, according to researchers.
During the study, they investigated the extent to which E4 allele carriers are at a higher risk for cognitive deficits when compared to counterparts as they age. The scientists were particularly interested in the interaction between ApoE4 and cholesterol levels. For their analysis, they examined blood samples, along with medical data, from two DKFZ epidemiological studies on older patients who took cognitive tests for memory and concentration capacity. The ESTHER Study included 1,434 individuals over the age of 70, and the KAROLA Study included 366 participants over 50.
"One possible explanation for the results could be that the brain is especially sensitive to the effects of ApoE4 once it has already been affected by cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol," said epidemiologists Dr. Laura Perna, in a news release.
Researchers also found that this allelle can increase the risk of arteriosclerosis--a narrowing of the arteries due to fatty deposits that can result in serious cardiac problems, meanwhile supporting the development of dementia. While it's "assumed to be caused by a high level of 'bad' LDL cholesterol in the blood, which often occurs in ApoE4 carriers. High cholesterol, in turn, is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer's," the release noted.
Fortunately, certain lifestyle changes can help to decrease risk--including a healthy diet and regular physical activity that can reduce high cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular disease
"What's good for the heart is also good for the brain and memory. This appears to be especially important for carriers of the ApoE4 risk factor."
Related Articles
Tau Protein, Not Amyloid, Now Thought To Be Responsible For Alzheimer's
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now:
NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone
TagsHealth, Human, Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, E4 Allele, Alleles, ApoE, Genes, Genetic, Carrier ©2024 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.
More on SCIENCEwr
First Posted: Oct 27, 2015 07:05 PM EDT
There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease--the most common form of dementia. Yet certain lifestyle changes could help to reduce risk, according to recent findings published in Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders.
Researchers found that risk of cognitive deficits were highest in those with high cholesterol and/or heart disease. They specifically examined the protein ApoE, which holds a critical role in the metabolism of blood lipids. The protein, which stands for apolipoprotein E, transports cholesterol to nerve cells that later require signal exchange. However, carriers of E4 allele--one of the three alleles of the ApoE gene--are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's, according to researchers.
During the study, they investigated the extent to which E4 allele carriers are at a higher risk for cognitive deficits when compared to counterparts as they age. The scientists were particularly interested in the interaction between ApoE4 and cholesterol levels. For their analysis, they examined blood samples, along with medical data, from two DKFZ epidemiological studies on older patients who took cognitive tests for memory and concentration capacity. The ESTHER Study included 1,434 individuals over the age of 70, and the KAROLA Study included 366 participants over 50.
"One possible explanation for the results could be that the brain is especially sensitive to the effects of ApoE4 once it has already been affected by cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol," said epidemiologists Dr. Laura Perna, in a news release.
Researchers also found that this allelle can increase the risk of arteriosclerosis--a narrowing of the arteries due to fatty deposits that can result in serious cardiac problems, meanwhile supporting the development of dementia. While it's "assumed to be caused by a high level of 'bad' LDL cholesterol in the blood, which often occurs in ApoE4 carriers. High cholesterol, in turn, is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer's," the release noted.
Fortunately, certain lifestyle changes can help to decrease risk--including a healthy diet and regular physical activity that can reduce high cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular disease
"What's good for the heart is also good for the brain and memory. This appears to be especially important for carriers of the ApoE4 risk factor."
Related Articles
Tau Protein, Not Amyloid, Now Thought To Be Responsible For Alzheimer's
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone