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February 8, 2023

PANERA LAUNCHES THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY AHEAD OF FASHION’S BIGGEST WEEK: INTRODUCING THE BAGuette

The expert in all points bread created the ideal purse to stroll the runway

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — These days, Panera is saying the launch of a new item built for equally the style aficionado and the foodie: introducing the BAGuette, the supreme accessory crafted to sit at the intersection of fashion and perform. As a person of the largest weeks in trend techniques, there is a great deal converse about baguette extras in the sector – but as the gurus in all matters bread, Panera decided to stage up to the plate to make a BAGuette bag designed in a way that it truly must be: 1 that is stylish on the outside and also the great size to carry just one of Panera’s new Toasted Baguettes.

The Panera BAGuette is all about design and functionality – the 12″ purse is donned in the beloved Panera environmentally friendly, designed for those looking for a pop of colour in their wardrobe. The stylish structured accessory features an embossed sample and flag magnetic closure with a custom made metallic “P” buckle and gold hardware.

Final month, Panera unveiled its most recent menu item, Toasted Baguettes, available in bakery-cafés nationwide. The ample sandwiches start out at $9.99 each and every (moreover tax) and are freshly well prepared with Clean up elements in three daring recipes, such as:

Inexperienced Goddess Caprese Soften: Peppadew™ peppers, refreshing mozzarella, grated parmesan, basil, arugula, inexperienced goddess dressing, garlic aioli and salt & pepper on Panera’s signature baguette
Pepperoni Mozzarella Soften: Pepperoni, new mozzarella, fontina/mozzarella mix and industry sauce on Panera’s signature baguette
Smoky Buffalo Chicken Soften: Smoked hen, American cheese, fresh new pink onions and Buffalo sauce on Panera’s signature baguette

“Our new Toasted Baguettes mark the initial time that Panera has crafted a delicious sandwich in celebration of our legendary baguette – and this is certainly the initial time we have produced a purse,” stated Drayton Martin, VP of Model Setting up, Panera Bread. “Each of these creations are remarkable celebrations of not only our abilities in all issues bread, but also the generous touches that make each individual Panera experience unique.”

500 BAGuette purses are now readily available for pre-sale setting up nowadays in honor of one of the most significant manner celebrations, getting position in New York Metropolis this February. Shoppers can go to PaneraBaguetteBag.com to order the incredibly hot new accessory for spring wardrobes for $39.50. (as well as any relevant taxes) From February 7 via February 13, MyPanera customers that obtain all a few Toasted Baguette Sandwiches will be entered for a opportunity to get a single of these “need to have” purses of the season.*

For extra details on Panera’s new Toasted Baguettes, visit www.PaneraBread.com.

*Purchases necessary. Lawful inhabitants of the US/DC. 18+. Void the place prohibited. Need to be a MyPanera® member to take part. Obstacle commences on 2/7/2023 and ends on 2/13/2023 (the “Challenge Period”). Throughout the Challenge Time period, members that order a single of each individual of the Toasted Baguettes (Smoky Buffalo Hen Melt, Pepperoni Mozzarella Soften, and Environmentally friendly Goddess Caprese Soften) (“Essential Buys”) at collaborating U.S. bakery-cafes will be entered for a likelihood to earn a BAGuette purse. Required Buys can be made in a one transaction or numerous transactions in the course of the Challenge Period. Catering orders, group orders, Panera at Function orders, or orders placed on third get together delivery sites do not depend in direction of Expected Purchases. Odds of successful a prize is dependent on the variety of members that entire the Obstacle all through the Obstacle Period of time. Challenge could expire devoid of detect due to mistake, fraud, or other unforeseen situation. For full regulations and information stop by: https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/lawful/great-print/baguette-obstacle-formal-rules.html

About Panera Bread

Panera Bread opened in 1987 as a neighborhood bakery, launched with a solution sourdough starter and a belief that sharing wonderful bread is an expression of warmth and generosity. That eyesight holds legitimate these days with a robust menu of mouth watering, chef-curated recipes created with a very simple basic principle: The Acquainted, Manufactured Fantastic™. At Panera, we provide foods that we are proud to serve our individual families, manufactured with responsibly raised proteins and freshly prepared with Clean up components–food items that does not include the synthetic preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colours from artificial resources established forth on our No-No checklist served in U.S. bakery-cafes. From crave-deserving soups, salads and sandwiches to flatbread pizza and sweets, we give our guests a lot more than terrific food items. Our ethos of generosity drives us to satisfy our company in which they are by technological innovation and as a result of our shared values. We are stewards of our communities and the earth — with systems like Working day-Conclude Dough-Nation® that donates unsold baked products in the evening to area non-revenue, or labeling climate-friendly very low carbon Awesome Foodstuff Meals.

As of January 24, 2023 there have been 2,112 bakery-cafes, business and franchise, in 48 states and in Ontario, Canada, functioning underneath the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names. Panera Bread is component of Panera Models, just one of the largest fast relaxed restaurant organizations in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels. For more information, stop by panerabread.com or locate us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) Instagram (@panerabread) or TikTok (@panerabread).

Media Contacts
ALISON BROD Advertising and marketing + COMMUNICATIONS
[email protected]

Resource Panera Bread

February 7, 2023

Ultra-processed foods may increase ovarian and brain cancer risk

Boxes of cake mix, which are considered ultra processed foods, on a packing line in a factory. — Consuming ultra processed foods has been linked to many negative health consequences. Andy Sacks/Getty Images

For many years, scientists have linked a healthy diet to a lowered risk for certain diseases.
Researchers from Imperial College London found that eating ultra-processed foods increases a person’s risk for developing cancer overall, specifically ovarian and brain cancers.
Scientists also found eating those foods heightens a person’s risk of dying from all cancers, especially ovarian and breast cancers.

Doctors have known for some time now that what we eat has a direct effect on our overall health.

The body requires specific nutrients to perform its routine tasks. And a healthy diet is linked to lowering a person’s risk for certain diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, as well as promoting better mental health.

Now, researchers from Imperial College London say eating ultra-processed foods increases a person’s risk for developing all cancers, specifically ovarian and brain cancers. And these foods also heighten a person’s risk of dying from cancers, especially ovarian and breast cancers.

The study was recently published in the journal eClinical Medicine.

Ultra-processed foods make up the fourth category of the NOVA food classification system.

According to this classification system, a food is considered ultra-processed if it is:

an industrial-made food with five or more ingredients
made entirely or mostly from substances extracted from foods, such as oils, fats, sugars, and starches
includes food substances not normally found in culinary preparations, like hydrogenated oils and modified starches
features additives whose main purpose is to imitate aspects of natural foods such as flavors, colors, and emulsifiers

Examples of ultra-processed foods include:

sodas and “energy” or sports drinks
packaged cookies
candies
pre-prepared pizza and packaged meats
sweetened and flavored yogurts
“instant” soups and other mixes
sweetened juices
baked goods made with hydrogenated vegetable fat, emulsifiers, and other additives

Previous research shows eating ultra-processed foods increases a person’s obesity risk and can accelerate a person’s biological aging.

Additionally, consuming ultra-processed foods has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, colorectal cancer, dementia, and all-cause mortality.

For this study, researchers used U.K. Biobank records to analyze the diets of 200,000 middle-aged adults. Scientists reviewed participants’ health over a 10-year time span, looking to see if they specifically developed 34 different types of cancer.

Upon review, the research team found people with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods had a greater risk of developing cancer overall.

For every 10{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} increase in ultra-processed food in a person’s diet, that person had a 2{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} increased risk of developing cancer overall.

Additionally, researchers found for every 10{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} increase in ultra-processed food consumption, a person increased their overall cancer death risk by 6{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

“The findings of this study on overall cancer risk are in line with what we know about the importance of a healthy diet in reducing our cancer risk,” Dr. Eszter Vamos, a clinical senior lecturer in the School of Public Health at Imperial College London and lead/senior author of this study told Medical News Today.

“There are many potential ways ultra-processed foods may increase cancer risk, and we need further research to better understand these,” she continued.

“UPFs have poor nutritional quality, are often high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats and low in fiber, and promote obesity — which is in itself a risk factor for many types of cancers. Ultra-processed foods may also contain potentially cancer-causing agents such as some controversial food additives, chemicals generated during food processing, and chemicals from packaging.”
— Dr. Eszter Vamos

In addition to overall cancer risk, Dr. Vamos and her team also found for every additional 10{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of ultra-processed foods in the diet, a person increased their risk of developing ovarian cancer by 19{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} and dying from it by 30{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

“This is the first study to assess associations of ultra-processed food consumption with many different types of cancers, including ovarian cancer,” Dr. Vamos explained, adding: “We need further studies from other populations to confirm these findings.”

“However, previous studies suggest that diets high in unhealthy fats and low in vegetables may increase the risk of ovarian cancer,” she said.

“Ultra-processed foods may also promote inflammation that could contribute to cancer risk. Furthermore, some potentially cancer-causing agents such as acrylamide, which may be generated during processing, have been implicated.”
— Dr. Eszter Vamos

Researchers also found for every 10{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} increase in ultra-processed foods in a person’s diet, they raised their breast cancer mortality rate by 16{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

Dr. Parvin Peddi, a medical oncologist and director of Breast Medical Oncology for the Margie Petersen Breast Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, California, who was not involved in the study, reiterated that breast cancer has a known correlation with people who are overweight as they can have higher levels of estrogen, which promotes risk breast cancer.

“We do know that people who have ‘unhealthy habits’ like dietary habits, meaning they eat more fatty or they are overweight, and perhaps now ultra-processed foods, have an increased risk of breast cancer.”
— Dr. Parvin Peddi

Medical News Today also spoke with Dr. Steve Vasilev, a board certified integrative gynecologic oncologist and medical director of Integrative Gynecologic Oncology at Providence Saint John’s Health Center and Professor at Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California, about this study and how ultra-processed foods may cause increased cancer risk. Dr. Vasilev was not involved in the study.

He said the “old school thought” was that various toxins from food processing, as well as added preservatives, lead to genetic mutations that cause cancer.

“That’s probably true to some extent. However, we now know since the Human Genome Project that there’s something called epigenetics, which basically is a study that looks at how genes are turned on and off. For example, if tumor suppressor genes are turned off, it will lead to diseases like cancer,” Dr. Vasilev explained.

However, he said that even if a person is born with the BRCA1 gene that increases their risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer, that does not necessarily mean that person will get one of those diseases. The epigenetics, he explained, leads to that gene being switched on or off in the body.

“So you do have a proactive ability to modulate which genes are turned on and off in your body. And what influences those, some of it is literally the toxins that accumulate from the preservatives and things like that in ultra-processed foods,” Dr. Vasilev added.

So how can people improve their diet to help decrease their cancer risk?

Kate Cohen, a registered dietitian at the Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, told Medical News Today that while correlation is not causation, medical experts know that around 50{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of cancers can be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes.

“Hence diet is a controllable risk factor that every single one of us can and should take ownership of. You can’t control the physiology of how your body responds to food, but you can control what food you put into your body.”

Cohen, who was not involved in the study, also said this study gives doctors more ammunition to explain, encourage, instruct, and direct patients that a healthy diet has a direct effect on so many different health conditions.

“And now we see that breast, ovarian and other cancers may be on that list. If patients are at higher risk of developing any cancer — man or woman — doctors should be jumping up and down about this, as well as familiarizing patients with the other modifiable risk factors for cancer. We haven’t cured cancer, but we can cure bad diets.”
— Kate Cohen, dietitian

February 7, 2023

FTX seeks to claw back money donated to politicians

New York
CNN
—

The new administration of FTX is pressuring hundreds of politicians and political organizations to return hundreds of thousands of pounds donated by the crypto system or its founders right before it went bankrupt previous 12 months.

The company, which collapsed in November and is now at the middle of a substantial federal fraud investigation, said it was sending “confidential messages” to political figures, political motion resources and other recipients as it seeks to claw back again belongings to repay its estimated 1 million creditors. In a assertion on Sunday, FTX said the donations have to have to be returned by the close of the month. If they aren’t, FTX claimed it reserves the appropriate to sue recipients.

“To the extent these types of payments are not returned voluntarily, the FTX Debtors reserve the ideal to start actions right before the Personal bankruptcy Court to involve the return of these kinds of payments, with curiosity accruing from the day any action is commenced,” the assertion reads. The firm included that recipients who gave the money to a 3rd occasion, like a charity, aren’t off the hook.

In FTX’s heyday, founder Sam Bankman-Fried was a fixture in DC politics, lobbying for mild-touch regulation of the nascent crypto marketplace and getting just one of the premier contributors to the Democratic Party. Bankman-Fried himself gave roughly $40 million to strategies and political motion committees, mostly backing Democrats, for the duration of the 2022 midterm election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Bankman-Fried afterwards instructed journalist Tiffany Fong that he donated an equal quantity to Republicans but that those people donations were being “dark.”

Federal prosecutors say that FTX, at the direction of Bankman-Fried, stole cash from shopper deposits to make political donations, acquire luxury genuine estate and cover losses at his hedge fund, Alameda Investigate.

Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to 8 counts of fraud and conspiracy previous thirty day period. Two of his previous associates, meanwhile, have pleaded guilty and implicated Bankman-Fried in the alleged crimes.

Independently, on Monday, FTX’s CEO John Ray III, who took around for Bankman-Fried when the agency filed for bankruptcy, testified about the company’s cybersecurity infrastructure, which he termed “very loose” and “vulnerable.”

“Literally a person of the founders could arrive into this atmosphere, download 50 {cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} a billion dollars’ worth of wallets onto a thumb push and wander off with them, and there’d be no accounting for that whatsoever,” he stated, incorporating that these types of lapses would be “virtually unthinkable…in a managed setting.”

He explained the course of action of securing FTX buyer passwords and wallets in the 1st 48 several hours of his leadership as “pure hell.” Ray grew to become CEO in November, changing Bankman-Fried. In the months in between November 11, when he took above the organization, and the stop of the 12 months, Ray advised the court that he designed around $690,000 in costs, excluding fees.

Ray’s testimony underscored his former accounts of stepping into a organization in full disarray. Ray, who oversaw the liquidation of Enron, mentioned in November that had in no way found these types of a “complete failure of company controls” and absence of trusted monetary statements in his occupation.

The judge in the case was weighing an exertion by the US Trustee, which signifies the Division of Justice in individual bankruptcy scenarios, to install an unbiased, courtroom-appointed examiner to oversee FTX’s personal bankruptcy.

Attorneys for FTX argued against such a a shift, indicating that an examiner would be duplicative, wasteful and highly-priced, with the load getting shouldered by FTX creditors.

The US Trustee argued that the allegations of fraud and misconduct are “too critical to be still left to an internal investigation.”

Choose John Dorsey has not still dominated on the examiner difficulty.

February 7, 2023

Sony-Honda vehicles might end up with competing dealers

The executives said the vehicle business is on the verge of modify.

Sony, inventor of the Walkman, and Honda, purveyor of the breakthrough CVCC engine employed in the very first-technology Civic, are revolutionary a new cross-sector solution that marries customer electronics with passenger vehicles, as automobiles come to be software-centric desktops on wheels.

American tech large Apple, for instance, has pondered a plunge into automotive and was even rumored to be thinking of a tie-up with Hyundai.

Chinese players are also progressively formidable. Baidu, that country’s counterpart to Google, is collaborating with BAIC Motor Co. to develop and deploy a fleet of full-electrical crossovers and robotaxis. Telecom network juggernaut Huawei Technologies Co. options to devote $1 billion in EV growth, although smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp. has mentioned it wants to plow $10 billion into generating pure-electrical automobiles more than the future 10 years.

For automakers, this kind of tie-ups help slash enhancement time and convey new products and services for prospects, stated Zhou Lei, a lover at Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting in Tokyo. For tech businesses, the new partnerships permit them to tap an solely new income stream in the mobility subject.

“They want to produce a new business model,” Zhou claimed. “In Japan, industries are typically really vertical, but this is a horizontal method and a new case all over the world. Japan’s auto sector desires this variety of venture to convey in new suggestions and vitality.”

Sony reported it is bringing a new twist to the automotive combine with a toolbox of digital technologies and its library of media material, courtesy of the firm’s motion picture, music and video clip gaming models. Afeela has also signed a partnership with Epic Game titles, creator of these types of hits as Fortnite, to build an on-the-go amusement room that “seamlessly” integrates the “actual and virtual worlds.”

The Afeela thought vehicle was unveiled in January at CES in Las Vegas, bristling with 45 cameras and other sensors. Sony will give optical sensors for automated driving functions and time-of-flight sensors for the driver checking method. It is even establishing its first in-house lidar sensors to use on the car, said Kawanishi, who came from Sony.

The Afeela will be capable of Level 3 autonomous driving from the get started, the companions promised.

To electricity all this electronic gadgetry, Afeela’s midsize sedan will get a higher-spec microprocessor established from spouse Qualcomm that is capable of rifling off 800 trillion operations per next. The chip sets in today’s autos, by distinction, typically range from 10 to 50 trillion functions for every second.

“That is extremely aggressive, incredibly innovative technologies in the mobility earth,” Kawanishi mentioned.

Mizuno stated that leaning on Sony’s technological innovation may well slash the new-vehicle enhancement timeline by 20 to 30 percent, compared with Honda’s standard cycle.

— Carly Schaffner in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

February 7, 2023

Daniel Lee’s vision for Burberry is an ode to Britishness

Accompanying the new visual rollout is a refreshed manufacturer logo showcasing Burberry’s well-known Equestrian Knight Layout, which was initially established in 1901 (it was the winning entry of a community level of competition to style a new brand) and previous up to date in 1999 when the manufacturer dropped the letter ‘S’ from its name, switching from Burberrys to Burberry. In 2018, the equestrian knight was eliminated entirely as section of Burberry’s new identity beneath previous imaginative director Riccardo Tisci, who worked with British artwork director and graphic designer Peter Saville to establish a new emblem in stark cash letters and monogram, featuring the founder Thomas Burberry’s initials “TB” interlocked.

The return of the equestrian knight pays tribute to the brand’s archive. The brand also attributes the Latin phrase “prorsum” this means “forwards”. Burberry made use of to have a diffusion line termed Prorsum, but it was consolidated into the key collection in 2016 below Christopher Bailey, then chief artistic officer and CEO.

Daniel Lee’s 1st inventive expression for Burberry.

Photograph: Courtesy of Burberry

Lee was named chief resourceful officer of Burberry in September, just days following Italian designer Tisci’s ultimate clearly show for the British heritage brand. CEO Jonathan Akeroyd, who joined the brand from Versace last April, identified Britishness as core to the brand’s approach and when he appointed Lee, observers ended up swift to take note his British roots (Lee hails from Bradford in West Yorkshire, England).

“Burberry flies the flag for Britishness and for the United kingdom and for tradition. So, we have to use our platforms because we have a accountability to connect people points,” Lee told Vogue Runway in December. “I never know if this is the right way to say this, but much more than shocking individuals, I definitely would like them to see the new vision and feel reassured — like, ‘Oh, yeah, this will make feeling: This is what Burberry should really be.’”

Akeroyd’s purpose is to double revenues to £5 billion in the very long term, together with by harnessing Lee’s innovative vision to develop product sales in the add-ons category. During Burberry’s third-quarter benefits in January, which noticed China dent revenue growth, the CEO reiterated its outlook for the close to and medium expression as it carries on to goal superior solitary-digit profits progress.

Comments, inquiries or feedback? Email us at feedback@voguebusiness.com.

More from this author:

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February 6, 2023

Healthy lifestyle, diet linked to slower memory decline

A woman kisses the cheek of an older woman who's cutting avocados — A study found a link between healthy lifestyles and slower memory decline in older adults. Shestock/Getty Images

Researchers followed 29,072 older adults (60 years old and over) over 10 years to investigate the link between lifestyle choices and memory loss.
They found a link between a healthy lifestyle and slower memory decline, even in the presence of the APOE Ɛ4 gene, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers hope their findings will inform public health initiatives seeking to prevent memory loss in older adults.

The gradual loss of thinking abilities such as memory, reasoning, and psychomotor speed is a natural part of aging. However, studies such as the FINGER clinical trial have shown that it is possible to prevent cognitive decline through lifestyle improvements.

The impact of lifestyle factors on memory has been the subject of many studies. However, previous research typically focused on a single lifestyle factor, such as diet, physical activity, smoking, or drinking. Understanding the combined effect of multiple lifestyle factors on memory decline is important.

For this reason, Dr. Jianping Jia, Ph.D., neurologist and professor at Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, and his colleagues investigated the combined effects of six lifestyle factors on memory decline in a large study population over a 10-year period.

In an interview with Medical News Today, Dr. Jia said:

“[E]ffective strategies for protecting against memory decline may benefit a large number of older adults. Our results showed that adherence to a combination of healthy lifestyle behaviours was associated with a slower memory decline in older adults, including those genetically susceptible to memory decline.”

The results of the study appear in the BMJ.

Dr. Richard J. Caselli, professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic, who was not involved in the study, described the study as “well done and generally supportive of findings from studies such as the FINGER study, this time in a Chinese population.”

The researchers recruited 29,072 study participants from North, South, and West China aged 60 or older with typical cognitive functions. Their mean age was 72.2 years, and 51.5{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} were men.

Genetic testing at baseline showed that 20.43{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the study participants were carriers of the APOE ε4 gene, the strongest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

The researchers followed up with the participants at intervals over the next 10 years, in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019.

At baseline and each follow-up, the researchers assessed the participants’ memory using the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), which includes measurement of immediate recall, short delay-free recall (3 min later), long delay-free recall (30 min later), and long delay recognition.

For this study, Dr. Jia and colleagues used American guidelines and the findings of previous studies to define a healthy lifestyle. They identified six factors:

a healthy diet – adherence to the recommended intake of at least 7 of 12 eligible food items (fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, dairy products, salt, oil, eggs, cereals, legumes, nuts, and tea)
regular physical exercise – at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week
Active social contact (participation in meetings or attending parties, visiting friends or relatives, traveling, and chatting online) – at least twice per week
active cognitive activity (writing, reading, playing cards, mahjong, and other games) – at least twice per week
never smokes (participants who had smoked less than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime) or used to smoke (participants who had quit smoking at least 3 years before the study)
never drank alcohol or drank occasionally

Researchers categorized participants into groups depending on their number of healthy lifestyle factors:

0-1 healthy lifestyle factors = unfavorable lifestyle (6967 participants)
2-3 healthy lifestyle factors = average lifestyle (16,549 participants)
4-6 healthy lifestyle factors = favorable lifestyle (5556 participants)

All participants’ mean memory test scores declined continuously over the decade, consistent with how memory declines with age. However, the highest memory test scores were observed in the favorable lifestyle group and the lowest in the unfavorable lifestyle group, indicating that participants with favorable lifestyles had slower memory decline than those with unfavorable lifestyles (by 0.028 points/year).

The results showed that a healthy diet had the strongest effect on memory, followed by an active cognitive activity, regular physical exercise, active social contact, never or former smoking, and never drinking.

This study did not identify the mechanisms responsible for modifying memory loss. However, the researchers hypothesized that they might include “reduced cerebrovascular risk, enhancement of cognitive reserve, inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation, and promotion of neurotrophic factors.”

Dr. Caselli told MNT that the “findings echo heart healthy behaviors (diet, exercise, no smoking in particular), with the addition of active social and cognitive activity, [and] cardiovascular health […] in turn is important for our cognitive health, so whether directly or indirectly [beneficial to memory], these findings seem credible and consistent with other well conducted studies.”

Dorly J.H. Deeg, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology of aging at Amsterdam University Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, also praised the study for its large and varied sample population and the numerous analyses supporting the findings.

The APOE ε4 allele, present in 20.43{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the study participants, is correlated with earlier and more rapidly progressive memory decline and represents a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

In this study, the researchers observed that a healthy lifestyle positively affected memory in all participants, regardless of whether they carried the APOE ε4 allele or not.

“[W]e find there are some people who are disheartened by finding they are an ε4 carrier […] The findings of this study will hopefully give such people hope that they can actively mitigate their genetically based vulnerability,” said Dr. Caselli.

In their paper, Dr. Jia and colleagues identify several study limitations, including that lifestyle factors were self-reported and thus prone to measurement errors. Furthermore, memory was evaluated using a single neuropsychological test. They also acknowledge the study design did not assess if a healthy lifestyle started affecting memory before the age of 60.

Dr. Caselli told MNT that the possibility that some participants were in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease cannot be excluded. “Though this entailed a 10-year follow-up, the preclinical phase of Alzheimer’s disease is closer to 20 years so things like social and cognitive activity may already start to decline in subtle ways before a person with preclinical stage disease develops overt symptoms and is diagnosed with MCI [mild cognitive impairment],” he said.

In comments to MNT, Dr. Deeg pointed out that the researchers “excluded a huge number of participants (30{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of eligible persons).” In the study paper, “[t]his is described as ‘younger than 60 years, refused to participate, etc’. As a reviewer, I would not think this is a satisfactory explanation,” she said.

Dr. Deeg told MNT that the findings of observational studies such as this one “should be replicated in randomized controlled trials.”

“Such trials have been performed – usually with only one lifestyle factor, mostly physical activity. Unfortunately, the findings are not unequivocal, and a recent JAMA article showed no effects,” she added. “So, we have some way to go to find out what intervention would work, and why – and for this, we need to know what the underlying mechanisms in the brain are.”

In an editorial linked to this study, Séverine Sabia, Ph.D., research professor at Université Paris Cité in France, and Archana Singh-Manoux, Ph.D., research professor at University College London recommend that future research focuses on “identifying not only the factors that matter most but also the threshold at which they matter, and the age when intervention is likely to be most effective.”