The Role of Diet, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle in Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: A Literature Review

Alzheimer's disease is currently the most common cause of dementia worldwide, primarily affecting older individuals. By impairing cognitive abilities, it significantly diminishes the quality of life of patients. Predictions indicate that its incidence will rise dynamically over the coming year...

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Main Authors: Adrianna Bogucka, Agata Kotkowiak, Karolina Knychalska, Mikołaj Łabuda, Teresa Sowińska, Agnieszka Szema, Oliwia Mentel, Aleksandra Słojewska, Jakub Sikora, Klaudia Królikowska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kazimierz Wielki University 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Education, Health and Sport
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Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60011
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author Adrianna Bogucka
Agata Kotkowiak
Karolina Knychalska
Mikołaj Łabuda
Teresa Sowińska
Agnieszka Szema
Oliwia Mentel
Aleksandra Słojewska
Jakub Sikora
Klaudia Królikowska
author_facet Adrianna Bogucka
Agata Kotkowiak
Karolina Knychalska
Mikołaj Łabuda
Teresa Sowińska
Agnieszka Szema
Oliwia Mentel
Aleksandra Słojewska
Jakub Sikora
Klaudia Królikowska
author_sort Adrianna Bogucka
collection DOAJ
description Alzheimer's disease is currently the most common cause of dementia worldwide, primarily affecting older individuals. By impairing cognitive abilities, it significantly diminishes the quality of life of patients. Predictions indicate that its incidence will rise dynamically over the coming years due to population aging. To date, no treatment has been developed that addresses the underlying causes. As a result, increasing attention has been given to identifying factors that could prevent the development of the disease. This paper examines the literature analyzing the impact of lifestyle, diet, and physical activity on the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Positive lifestyle factors that have been repeatedly analyzed for their preventive value include, among others: a high level of education, engagement in pro-cognitive activities, social bonding, a healthy diet, and physical activity exceeding 150 minutes per week. All of the above have shown correlations with a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease, although not all researchers are certain about the positive impact of physical activity. Notably, higher education and its associated cognitive reserve theory, as well as the impact of the MIND and Mediterranean diets on inhibiting the inflammatory process, stand out. Currently, loneliness, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension may account for up to half of Alzheimer's cases. Focusing on a single element influencing the development of Alzheimer's disease is less important than combining multiple factors, such as an appropriate diet, regular physical activity, and social and cognitive engagement while avoiding recognized risk factors. Only this approach may help reduce millions of cases of dementia in the future.
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spelling doaj-art-85b1532078d84371be83ed87f41f148f2025-08-20T03:53:13ZengKazimierz Wielki UniversityJournal of Education, Health and Sport2391-83062025-05-018010.12775/JEHS.2025.80.60011The Role of Diet, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle in Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: A Literature ReviewAdrianna Bogucka0https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8870-0495Agata Kotkowiak1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4797-6980Karolina Knychalska2https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3736-0579Mikołaj Łabuda3https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4137-4319Teresa Sowińska4https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0061-212XAgnieszka Szema5https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5017-3426Oliwia Mentel6https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4739-0621Aleksandra Słojewska7https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7532-0948Jakub Sikora8https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9637-0709Klaudia Królikowska9https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7984-4642Independent Public Voivodeship Integrated Hospital in SzczecinFamily Medicine Clinic "Podgórna", Podgórna 22 St. 70-205 Szczecin Poland University Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 Szczecin Independent Public Voivodeship Integrated Hospital in Szczecin, ul. Arkońska 4University Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 Szczecin University Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 Szczecin University Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 Szczecin Independent Public Voivodeship Integrated Hospital in Szczecin, ul. Arkońska 4 71-455 SzczecinProfi-Med Medical Center Goleniów Marii Konopnickiej 10A 72-100 Goleniów University Clinical Hospital no. 2 PMU in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 72 St 70-111 Szczecin Alzheimer's disease is currently the most common cause of dementia worldwide, primarily affecting older individuals. By impairing cognitive abilities, it significantly diminishes the quality of life of patients. Predictions indicate that its incidence will rise dynamically over the coming years due to population aging. To date, no treatment has been developed that addresses the underlying causes. As a result, increasing attention has been given to identifying factors that could prevent the development of the disease. This paper examines the literature analyzing the impact of lifestyle, diet, and physical activity on the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Positive lifestyle factors that have been repeatedly analyzed for their preventive value include, among others: a high level of education, engagement in pro-cognitive activities, social bonding, a healthy diet, and physical activity exceeding 150 minutes per week. All of the above have shown correlations with a lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease, although not all researchers are certain about the positive impact of physical activity. Notably, higher education and its associated cognitive reserve theory, as well as the impact of the MIND and Mediterranean diets on inhibiting the inflammatory process, stand out. Currently, loneliness, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension may account for up to half of Alzheimer's cases. Focusing on a single element influencing the development of Alzheimer's disease is less important than combining multiple factors, such as an appropriate diet, regular physical activity, and social and cognitive engagement while avoiding recognized risk factors. Only this approach may help reduce millions of cases of dementia in the future. https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60011Alzheimer's diseaselifestyleMediterranean dietphysical activitydementia
spellingShingle Adrianna Bogucka
Agata Kotkowiak
Karolina Knychalska
Mikołaj Łabuda
Teresa Sowińska
Agnieszka Szema
Oliwia Mentel
Aleksandra Słojewska
Jakub Sikora
Klaudia Królikowska
The Role of Diet, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle in Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: A Literature Review
Journal of Education, Health and Sport
Alzheimer's disease
lifestyle
Mediterranean diet
physical activity
dementia
title The Role of Diet, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle in Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: A Literature Review
title_full The Role of Diet, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle in Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: A Literature Review
title_fullStr The Role of Diet, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle in Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: A Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Diet, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle in Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: A Literature Review
title_short The Role of Diet, Physical Activity, and Lifestyle in Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: A Literature Review
title_sort role of diet physical activity and lifestyle in alzheimer s disease prevention a literature review
topic Alzheimer's disease
lifestyle
Mediterranean diet
physical activity
dementia
url https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/60011
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