Table 1.
Table 1 Recent studies of lifestyle factors and incident dementia
| Author | Lifestyle factor | Sample (mean follow-up) | Results | Comment |
| Podewils et al (51) | Number of exercise activities | N=3375 (5.4 years) | >3 activities associated with decreased dementia incidence (HR=0.58) | Effect seen in ApoE4 negative |
| Larson et al (66) | Frequency of exercise | N=1740 (6.2 years) | >3 times weekly exercise associated with decreased dementia incidence (HR=0.62) | Greater effect seen in persons with lower exercise performance levels at baseline |
| Wilson et al (67) | Number and frequency of cognitively stimulating activities | N=842 (4.1 years) | More cognitive stimulation associated with decreased dementia incidence (OR=0.36 for one-point increase in composite measure) | No effect seen for physical activity |
| Verghese et al (54) | Number of leisure activities | N=469 (5.1 years) | Greater number of leisure activities was associated with decreased dementia incidence | Activities associated with decreased dementia incidence included reading, playing board games, playing musical instruments, and dancing |
| Wang et al (68) | Performance-based physical function | N=2288 (5.9 years) | Higher levels of baseline physical performance were associated with decreased dementia incidence | Similar association with cognitive decline |
| Scarmeas et al (69) | Number of leisure activities dichotomized at the median | N=1772 (2.9 years) | Greater number of leisure activities was associated with decreased dementia incidence | |
| Rovio et al (69) | Midlife exercise frequency | N=1449 (26 years) | Exercise at least twice weekly in midlife was associated with decreased dementia incidence in late life (OR=0.48) | Note that the association applies to midlife (not late life) exercise frequency |
| Laurin et al (71) | Cognitive activity (compositve measure) | N=801 (4.5 years) | Cognitively stimulating activities were associated with decreased dementia incidence | Similar association with global cognition, working memory, and perceptual speed |
| HR - hazard ratio; OR - odds ratio | ||||
| The samples are selected to lack dementia or significant functional impairment at baseline, but are not chosen in a manner to include or exclude subjects with mild cognitive impairment | ||||