We know there are several biological and lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, especially age. A new study, however, suggests there are others we haven’t considered until recently, including our environment.
The Study
A new study from Harvard Medical School, published Sept. 29 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, suggests that our surroundings, daily habits, and living conditions may just play a bigger role in Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia than previously thought. Researchers wanted to find out just how much the environment might contribute to the risk of developing the disease.
The study examined health information from nearly half a million people in the United Kingdom for an average of about 15 years. Scientists looked at 193 different environmental and lifestyle factors across five areas: “chemical, such as air pollutants and medications; physical, such as noise; lifestyle, such as diet, physical activity and sleep; social, such as education and socioeconomic status; and ecosystems, such as access to green space.” They found that 76 of these factors were associated with either an increased or decreased risk of dementia, while 34 were specifically linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
According to their findings, people who had financial difficulties, lower levels of education, or poor housing conditions had a higher risk of developing dementia. Smoking, air pollution, excessive or insufficient sleep, and frequent daytime drowsiness were also associated with increased risk. On the other hand, those who got regular exercise, walked for the fun of it, worked in their yards, or lived with a partner tended to have a lower risk.
During the study period, 8,881 participants developed Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, and of those, 4,000 developed Alzheimer’s specifically.
Increasing Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA): “About one in 13 people 65 to 84 and one in three people 85 and older live with Alzheimer’s.”
The most commonly known risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s and dementia is age; most people who develop it do so after age 65. Other known risks are genetics and health and lifestyle factors. One environmental factor that stood out was nitrogen dioxide, a gas commonly released by vehicle exhaust and power plants. Researchers found that for every increase of 9.7 micrograms per cubic meter in nitrogen dioxide exposure, the risk grew by about 8%.
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The number of medications people took was also an important predictor. While people who took several medications were more likely to develop dementia during the study, the researchers cautioned that this doesn’t mean medicine was the cause.
When it comes to gender, alcohol consumption and certain dietary patterns showed stronger risk association in men than in women. One interesting discovery was the consumption of wheat products. Men who reported never eating the grain showed a higher risk of dementia than women with the same diet pattern.
Another somewhat bizarre difference between the genders is that women who frequently participated in adult education classes such as traditional schooling or night classes had a lower association with dementia risk than men who participated in the same or similar activities. Researchers wonder if continued learning helps maintain cognitive abilities as people age.
Most people don't have much control over the air they breathe, the neighborhood they live in, or the financial difficulties they face. Yet, according to this research, those circumstances may have a connection to their long-term brain health. It's an interesting consideration, especially when we think about how much attention is placed on personal habits and lifestyle choices. Perhaps the risk of developing dementia has as much to do with the world around us as it does with what we do within it.
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