Even if one carries high-risk genes for dementia, adhering to a healthy lifestyle can significantly extend cognitive health lifespan by 4-5 years. "This is the conclusion drawn from a joint study conducted by Yao Yao, a researcher at Peking University, Ren Longbing, a postdoctoral fellow, Hu Fan, deputy chief physician at the People's Liberation Army General Hospital, and scholars from universities such as University College London and Osaka University in Japan. The related results were recently published online in the international journal" Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia ". This study provides a scientific basis for individual prevention and control. As the main and most difficult genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, the two different subtypes of apolipoprotein E (APOE gene) (APOE ε 4 allele and APOE ε 2 allele) have always been of great concern in the academic community. Research has found that over 10% of elderly people in China carry the APOE ε 4 allele. The risk of cognitive impairment for this group of people is 23% higher than that of the general population, and this change has occurred since middle age. The carriers of APOE ε 2 allele are not easily threatened by dementia and death. Researchers speculate that this gene may indirectly protect cognitive function by reducing the incidence rate of cardiovascular disease. Although genes provide different insurances for everyone's cognitive health, lifestyle is the switch that determines whether the insurance is effective. ”Yao Yaoyan explained, "Even those who carry the APOE ε 4 allele and have a healthy lifestyle can still significantly delay cognitive decline; If carriers of the APOE ε 2 allele do not have good lifestyle habits, their advantages will also be offset. ”Based on in-depth research on the interaction between dual face and healthy lifestyle of APOE and its impact on the progression of Alzheimer's disease, the research team conducted a 15 year follow-up of 6488 elderly people aged 65 and above in China. The research results found that adhering to the following five common healthy lifestyles can not only significantly extend lifespan, but also effectively delay the progression of cognitive impairment, achieving an extension of "cognitive health lifespan years". Firstly, do not smoke or quit smoking for more than 10 years to avoid long-term chronic damage to nerves and blood vessels caused by harmful substances in tobacco. Secondly, refrain from drinking alcohol or quit drinking for more than 10 years to avoid cognitive damage caused by alcohol. Thirdly, diversify your diet by consuming at least 5 types of 12 foods daily, such as whole grains, fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts, beans, etc., with a particular emphasis on consuming unsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber. Fourthly, engage in regular physical activity and do moderate intensity physical exercises every day, such as brisk walking, square dancing, and Tai Chi. Fifthly, actively engage in cognitive socialization by reading, playing chess, visiting gatherings or participating in organized community activities at least twice a week to stimulate brain thinking and activate brain neural connections. Data shows that compared to individuals without the aforementioned lifestyle habits, elderly people who possess 4-5 healthy lifestyle habits have a 27% reduced risk of transitioning from "cognitive health" to "cognitive impairment" and a 43% reduced risk of transitioning from "cognitive health" to "direct death"; Even elderly people who have shown cognitive impairment have a 73% higher probability of reversing to "cognitive health" by adhering to a healthy lifestyle. What is even more exciting is that 65 year old men and women have gained 4.78 years and 5.26 years of "extra cognitive health life years" through a healthy lifestyle, respectively, which means that the onset of dementia may be delayed by nearly 5 years. The study also suggests that even elderly people carrying the APOE ε 4 allele may experience cognitive impairment earlier, but if they adhere to a wider range of healthy lifestyles, they can still have similar effects in extending their healthy lifespan as those without genetic risk and with a healthy lifestyle. This discovery not only breaks through the previous understanding of genetic risk determinism, but also provides strong research evidence for elderly people in China to maintain cognitive health. This scientific research achievement has shifted the perspective of Alzheimer's disease prevention and treatment from 'disease treatment' to 'health maintenance', confirming that 'controllable factors are more important than uncontrollable factors'. ”Tang Yi, Executive Vice Director of the National Center for Neurological Diseases, Executive Vice President and Professor of Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, pointed out that there are a large number of Alzheimer's disease patients in China, and 45% of patients can prevent the occurrence of the disease through various modifiable risk factors. For every year of delay in the occurrence of the disease, the cost of prevention and control can be reduced by more than 40%. He called for the next step in treating Alzheimer's disease to be focused on two aspects: firstly, incorporating lifestyle interventions into basic public health services, establishing "memory clinics", and striving to have "cognitive health instructors" in every community; The second is to strengthen science popularization education, eliminate the misconception that "dementia is inevitable", and enable the elderly to truly understand that "today's good habits determine tomorrow's brain health". (New Society)