Alzheimer's may be linked to better hygiene, say researchers
Better sanitation and hygiene and higher levels of urbanisation could be linked to higher rates of Alzheimer's disease. This is according to a study published in the journal, Evolution, Medicine and Public Health.
Researchers from Cambridge University looked at age-standardised rates (rates if all countries had the same population birth rate, life expectancy and age structure) of Alzheimer's in 192 countries. They claim that levels of sanitation, infectious disease and urbanisation accounted respectively for 33 per cent, 36 per cent and 28 per cent of the discrepancy in Alzheimer's rates between countries.
Dr James Pickett, Head of Research for the Alzheimer's Society said:
"We have known for some time that the numbers of people with Alzheimer's varies between countries. That this discrepancy could be the result of better hygiene is certainly an interesting theory and loosely ties in with the links we know exist between inflammation and the disease.
"However it is always difficult to pin causality to one factor and this study does not cancel out the role of the many other lifestyle differences such as diet, education and wider health which we know can also have a role to play.
"One in three people over 65 will develop dementia. The best way to reduce your risk is to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, not smoke and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check."
Alzheimer's Society research shows that 800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia; more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In fewer than ten years, a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051.
