The Caring Corner®
News for Hillsborough: Dementia Is Not Caused by Just Genetics
Many people believe as they age that their likelihood of getting dementia increases due to genetics and aging. However, a new study has found that a sedentary lifestyle could play a role in increasing your risk for dementia. One of the biggest risk factors for getting Alzheimer’s disease is possessing the APOE e4 gene. You are three times more likely to develop the disease than those that do not have it and if you have multiple copies, you are eight to 12 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
New research has found that being sedentary increases your risk for Alzheimer’s just as much as carrying the gene. Patients carrying the APOE e4 gene that exercised were less likely to develop dementia than those that were sedentary without the gene. Doctors usually recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise each week. Researchers considered someone sedentary that spent 9.4 hours sitting which is 65-80% of your day. The important note is that being inactive can negate healthy genes.
Looking for in home care givers for yourself or a loved one?
Acorn can help! We serve Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and surrounding areas.
