Evaluating Life Simple Seven's influence on brain health outcomes: The intersection of lifestyle and dementia

BackgroundLifestyle factors have been studied for dementia risk, but few have comprehensively assessed both Alzheimers disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease (CBVD) pathologies. ObjectiveOur research aims to determine the relationships between lifestyle and various dementia pathologies, challenging conventional research paradigms. MethodsAnalyzing 1231 Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimers Prevention (WRAP) study participants, we focused on Life Simple Seven (LS7) score calculations from questionnaire data and clinical vitals. We assessed brain health indicators including CBVD, AD, and cognition. ResultsHigher (healthier) LS7 scores were associated with better CBVD outcomes, including lower percent white matter hyperintensities and higher cerebral blood flow, and higher Preclinical Alzheimers Composite 3 and Delayed Recall scores. No significant associations were observed between LS7 scores and AD markers of amyloid and tau accumulation. ConclusionThis study provides evidence that the beneficial effects of LS7 on cognition are primarily through cerebrovascular pathways rather than direct influences on AD pathology.