David Llewellyn, PhD: The Impact of Lifestyle Factors on Genetic Risk in Dementia

"I think the take-home message is pretty clear, it's really encouraging that even it amongst people with a very high genetic risk of dementia, lifestyle factors were associated with a reduced risk. It's not a trial, so it doesn't demonstrate causality, we're not changing people's lifestyles, and showing that we're reducing their individual risk of dementia, but it is really promising that the public health strategies aimed at reducing rates of dementia, at reducing people's individual risks of dementia, may work even in those with a high genetic risk and we didn't know that before."

At the 2019 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference held in Los Angeles, California, researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School presented findings from an observational study which suggest that adherence to a healthy lifestyle can offset genetic dementia risk, and support engaging in healthy lifestyle interventions to prevent or delay dementia.

David Llewellyn, PhD, senior author of the study and an associate professor of neuroepidemiology and digital health at the University of Exeter Medical School, spoke with NeurologyLive to discuss the implications of these findings.

Llewellyn explained that while this is an observational study and does not demonstrate causality, the take home message is clear: even amongst individuals with a high genetic risk for dementia, lifestyle factors are associated with a reduced risk.

For more coverage of AAIC 2019, click here.

REFERENCE

Kuzma E, Lourida I, Hannon E, et al. Genetic Risk, Lifestyle and Dementia. Presented at: 2019 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Los Angeles, CA, July 14—18, 2019.