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Review
. 2018 Dec;7(4):335-345.
doi: 10.1007/s13668-018-0247-9.

Dietary Patterns, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Risk for Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Chen Zhao  1   2 , James M Noble  3   4   5 , Karen Marder  3   4   5 , Jacob S Hartman  6 , Yian Gu  4   5   7 , Nikolaos Scarmeas  3   4   5   8
Affiliations
Review

Dietary Patterns, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Risk for Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Chen Zhao et al. Curr Nutr Rep. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Diet, physical activity, and sleep are three major modifiable lifestyle factors. This selective review examines the evidence for strong and reliable associations between these three lifestyle factors and risk of dementia and cognitive decline, in an effort to assist clinicians with providing more informed answers to the common questions they face from patients.

Recent findings: Certain aspects of nutrition can decrease risk for dementia. Physical activity has also been associated with delayed or slower age-related cognitive decline. In addition, emerging evidence links sleep dysfunction and dementia, with amyloid deposition being a possible mediator. Data from further clinical trials are needed before more definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the efficacy of these lifestyle interventions for lowering the risk of incident dementia and cognitive decline. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to make recommendations to our patients to adopt certain dietary changes and to engage in regular physical activity to improve cardiovascular risk factors for dementia. It is also reasonable to include questions on sleep during cognitive evaluations of the elderly, given the common co-occurrence of sleep dysfunction and cognitive impairment in the elderly population.

Keywords: Diet and cognition; Diet and dementia; Exercise and cognition; Exercise and dementia; Lifestyle and cognition; Lifestyle and dementia; Modifiable factors dementia; Nutrition and cognition; Nutrition and dementia; Physical activity and cognition; Physical activity and dementia; Prevent dementia; Primary prevention dementia; Risk factors dementia; Sleep and cognition; Sleep and dementia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Chen Zhao declares that she has no conflict of interest.

James M. Noble declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Jacob S. Hartman declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Yian Gu declares that she has no conflict of interest.

References

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