One in three Alzheimer's cases preventable, says research from Cambridge

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A healthier, fitter population could be the key to reducing cases of Alzheimer's disease.
The main risk factors for the disease are a lack of exercise, smoking, depression and poor education, it says.

The Cambridge team analysed population-based data to work out the main seven risk factors for Alzheimer's disease.

These are:

• Diabetes
• Mid-life hypertension
• Mid-life obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Depression
• Smoking
• Low educational attainment

"While age is the biggest risk factor for most cases of Alzheimer's, there are a number of lifestyle and general health factors that could increase or decrease a person's chances of developing the disease."

"However, we still do not fully understand the mechanisms behind how these factors are related to the onset of Alzheimer's."

Of the seven risk factors, the largest proportion of cases of Alzheimer's in the US, UK and the rest of Europe can be attributed to physical inactivity.

Physical inactivity is also linked to increased risks of other health problems, such as cancers and cardiovascular diseases.