A study by researchers at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior has found that a healthy diet, regular physical activity and a normal body mass index can reduce the incidence of protein build-ups that are associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The study found that each one of several lifestyle factors—a healthy body mass index, physical activity and a Mediterranean diet—were linked to lower levels of plaques and tangles on the brain scans.

Older age is the No. 1 non-modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, which affects an estimated 5.2 million people in the United States and results in more than $200 billion in health care costs annually.

Source: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-08-diet-protein-build-ups-linked-alzheimer.html