Simple habits that could prevent Alzheimer's

As is the case with a number of diseases, some people are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than others.

But new research suggests that certain lifestyle habits might be able to offset your genetic risk of developing Alzheimer's. The research was presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Los Angeles yesterday.

And changing up a few of your daily habits to lessen your risk could be well worth your trouble. The new research finds that people with a high genetic risk were a third less likely to develop dementia if they followed a healthy lifestyle, compared to their counterparts who lead unhealthy lifestyles.

What is Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Sixty to 80% of people with dementia have Alzheimer's, the Alzheimer's Association says.

Age is the biggest risk factor; the majority of Alzheimer's patients are over 65. A number of genes can increase one's risk of having Alzheimer's.

Researchers believe that between 40 and 65% of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's have a gene called APOE-e4, which was the first gene identified as capable of increasing Alzheimer's risk. Researchers are constantly studying new genes that influence Alzheimer's risk, Rebecca Edelmayer, PhD, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer's Association, tells Health.

How can you lower your risk?

As Sano stated, there's no real downside to maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine, going easy on alcohol, and refraining from smoking cigarettes. All of these healthy lifestyle habits will positively impact other areas of your wellbeing as well as your brain health.

If you're already watching your weight and substance-use habits closely, there's more you can do to decrease your risk, Edelmayer says.

She suggests incorporating cognitively stimulating activities into your daily routine to keep your brain on its toes. These can be "activities related to strategy outside of your normal routine," Edelmayer says.

Sano echoes this, saying, "Intellectual and social stimulation have a positive benefit."She adds one more tip: "Managing stress, anxiety, and depression can be helpful." So you can add decreasing your risk of having Alzheimer's to the list of reasons you should prioritize your mental health.