Genetic risk, adherence to a healthy lifestyle, and cognitive decline in African Americans and European Americans. Issue 4 (26th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dhana, Klodian; Barnes, Lisa L.; Liu, Xiaoran; Agarwal, Puja; Desai, Pankaja; Krueger, Kristin R.; Holland, Thomas M.; Halloway, Shannon; Aggarwal, Neelum T.; Evans, Denis A.; Rajan, Kumar B.
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 18:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 572
• Page End: 580
• Publication Date: 2021-07-26
• Subjects: African Americans -- apolipoprotein E -- cognitive decline -- European Americans -- genetic epidemiology -- lifestyle factors -- race/ethnicity; Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.12435
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: We investigated the role of genetic risk and adherence to lifestyle factors on cognitive decline in African Americans and European Americans. Methods: Using data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (1993–2012; n = 3874), we defined the genetic risk based on presence of apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) ε 4 $\varepsilon 4$ allele and determined a healthy lifestyle using a scoring of five factors: non‐smoking, exercising, being cognitively active, having a high‐quality diet, and limiting alcohol use. We used linear mixed‐effects models to estimate cognitive decline by genetic risk and lifestyle score. Results: APOE ε 4 $\varepsilon 4$ allele was associated with faster cognitive decline in both races. However, within APOE ε 4 $\varepsilon 4$ carriers, adherence to a healthy lifestyle (eg., 4 to 5 healthy factors) was associated with a slower cognitive decline by 0.023 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.004, 0.042) units/year in African Americans and 0.044 (95% CI 0.008, 0.080) units/year in European Americans. Discussion: A healthy lifestyle was associated with a slower cognitive decline in African and European Americans.