Long-term accumulation of harmful lifestyle habits clearly increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease among older adults, according to findings from a Korean cohort study. In particular, among women, higher risk scores for adverse lifestyle habits were associated with up to a 54% increase in the risk of developing the disease.

Eulji University Hospital announced on the 8th that a research team led by Professors Kang Seo-young and Kim Won-seok of the Department of Family Medicine (co-corresponding authors) and Eulji University College of Medicine student Lee Ji-min (co–first author) had identified the correlation between the cumulative burden of lifestyle risk factors and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The research team used extensive cohort data from the National Health Insurance Service to follow 142,763 adults aged 65 or older over an eight-year period.

The study was based on data from older adults who participated in four rounds of the National Health Screening Program between 2002 and 2009. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity were scored, and these scores were accumulated to derive individual lifestyle risk scores on a 0–12 point scale. The researchers then analyzed the hazard ratios for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease according to these scores.

The analysis showed that as lifestyle risk scores increased, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease rose markedly in both men and women.

Among women, compared with a risk score of 0–1, the risk of onset increased by 34% for scores of 2–3, by 41% for scores of 4–5, and by as much as 54% for the highest range of 6–12. Among men, the corresponding increases in risk were 25% for scores of 2–3, 30% for 4–5, and 40% for 6–12.

Student Lee Ji-min stated, “These findings provide important evidence that when lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity accumulate over a long period, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease can increase substantially.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative neurological disorder characterized by the gradual progression of memory decline and cognitive impairment, and it is the most common form of dementia. In Korea, which has entered a super-aged society where people aged 65 and older account for more than 20% of the total population, the number of patients has recently been rising sharply, highlighting the importance of preventive approaches from a public health perspective.

Professor Kim Won-seok expressed the expectation that “visualizing cumulative lifestyle habits as a score will help establish systematic and effective lifestyle improvement education programs and prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s disease.” Professor Kang Seo-young stressed, “Given the pace of population aging in Korea, the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease among older adults is expected to continue rising,” adding, “It is hoped that this study will serve as an opportunity to remind the public of the need for healthy lifestyle habits.”

This study was published in the latest issue of the international academic journal Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

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