LOS ANGELES: Preventable risk factors may be the cause of Alzheimer’s in as many as two thirds of cases, according to a new analysis. The study did not find that any single risk factor causes Alzheimer’s. Rather, the degenerative disease results from the complex interaction of lifestyle, developmental history, and biology.
Researchers analyzed data from a total of 323 studies published between 1968 and 2014. These studies followed more than 5,000 people and addressed 93 Alzheimer’s risk factors.
A pooled analysis was used to grade the strength of each individual risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Researchers found that cholesterol-lowering statins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, estrogen supplementation, and blood pressure drugs may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s. Coffee, folate (commonly found in prenatal vitamins), and vitamins C and E also lowered the risk.