According to a recent study, lifestyle seems to be more important than age in cognitive function and future dementia risks across all ages.

Researchers looked at the performance on memory and attention tests of 22.117 participants aged between 18 and 89. They investigated how their cognitive performance was affected by 8 risk factors of dementia:

low education (less than a high school diploma), hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, too much alcohol, high blood pressure, smoking (currently or in the past 4 years), diabetes and depression.

It turned out that each of these risk factors led to a decrease in cognitive performance by as much as 3 years of aging, with each additional factor contributing the same amount of decline. For example, having 4 risk factors could lead to a decrease in cognitive performance equivalent to as much as 12 years of aging!

Researchers believe that people can decrease their risk of cognitive decline and dementia by addressing any risk factors they have as early as possible.

Our health is in our hands. Don’t forget about it!

Curious? HERE is the source