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Integrated healthy lifestyle even in late-life mitigates cognitive decline risk across varied genetic susceptibility

Author

Listed:
  • Jun Wang

    (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

  • Chen Chen

    (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

  • Jinhui Zhou

    (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College)

  • Zinan Xu

    (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Southern Medical University)

  • Lanjing Xu

    (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Zhejiang University)

  • Xinwei Li

    (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Jilin University)

  • Zhuchun Zhong

    (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Zhejiang University School of Medicine)

  • Yuebin Lv

    (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

  • Xiaoming Shi

    (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

Abstract

It remains unclear whether the benefits of adhering to a healthy lifestyle outweigh the effects of high genetic risk on cognitive decline. We examined the association of combined lifestyle factors and genetic risk with changes in cognitive function and six specific dimensions of cognition among older adults from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (1998–2018, n = 18,811, a subset of 6301 participants with genetic information). Compared to participants with an unfavorable lifestyle, those with a favorable lifestyle showed a 46.81% slower rate of cognitive decline, with similar results across most cognitive domains. High genetic risk was associated with a 12.5% faster rate of cognitive decline. Individuals with a high genetic risk and a favorable lifestyle have slower cognitive decline than those with a low genetic risk and an unfavorable lifestyle. These data suggest that the benefits of a favorable lifestyle outweigh genetic factors, and therefore that adhering to a favorable lifestyle may offset the genetic risk for accelerated cognitive decline.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun Wang & Chen Chen & Jinhui Zhou & Zinan Xu & Lanjing Xu & Xinwei Li & Zhuchun Zhong & Yuebin Lv & Xiaoming Shi, 2025. "Integrated healthy lifestyle even in late-life mitigates cognitive decline risk across varied genetic susceptibility," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-55763-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55763-0
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