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Rural living could help you avoid this fatal disease

Rural living could help you reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease. Source: Getty
Rural living could help you reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease. Source: Getty

Alzheimer’s Disease accounts for around 50 to 75 per cent of all dementia cases in Australia – and there’s around 160,000 cases of dementia in the country.

By 2025, Health Engine predicts the total number of Aussies with dementia will surpass 730,000, or almost 3 per cent of the population.

And while there’s no specific cure, two professors from the University of Wollongong – Thomas Astell-Burt and Xiaoqi Feng – published some astounding research results in The Conversation, which suggests some Australians are less at risk than others.

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The researchers collected data from over 260,000 adults aged over 45 in New South Wales, and identified those with Alzheimer’s Disease by seeing if they were prescribed medications called “cholinesterase inhibitors” and “memantine”.

Those drugs are usually prescribed after someone performs a mini-mental state examination, and receives a score consistent with Alzheimer’s disease, which is then confirmed by a specialist.

The results?

NSW people living in rural or remote areas were between 6 and 19 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease over 11 years, compared to their city peers.

Why do people in remote areas have a lower rate of Alzheimer’s?

According to the professors, scientists suggest Alzheimer’s Disease could be caused by an abnormal build-up of a particular type of protein called “amyloid beta peptide” in the brain.

That build-up can create plaques which cause inflammation, destroy synapses, kill neurons and, ultimately, brain cells.

But, other research on mice has emerged which suggests sleep might be able to help clear amyloid beta - something that could be made difficult in urban airs by chronic noise, air quality and heat.

On top of that, the professors’ research suggests that air pollution could play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, and there’s plenty of that to go around in city centres.

“People living in Australia’s largest cities are generally exposed to higher levels of air pollution, which could help to partly explain why we found a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease it city dwellers,” they said.

What can you do about it?

Studies show living nearby greener spaces or having contact with nature can lead to better cognition among adults as well as stress relief and lower blood pressure.

“No matter whether you live in the country or city, try to make use of whatever green spaces you have around you.

Relax in the garden or make regular visits to local parks – your older self will thank you for it,” the professors said.

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