69 | id == 69
69 | category_id == 9
69 | category_order == 6
69 | category_name == Longevity
69 | category_color == #C47AC0
69 | slug == APOC1-Longevity
69 | title == Does This Cholesterol-Related Gene Affect Lifespan? (APOC1)
69 | meta_description == The APOC1 gene is linked to cholesterol, Alzheimer’s disease, and possibly even longevity. Learn more about this gene here!
69 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>APOC1</em> gene plays an important role in regulating cholesterol levels in the body. Studies also suggest that <em>APOC1</em> may be linked to longevity because of its possible association with cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease. Read on to learn more about how this gene works and its effects on lifespan!</strong></p>
69 | overall_score_text == Longevity Score (based on APOC1 gene)
69 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/APOC1_Longevity_post_image.jpg
69 | author_id == 8
69 | author_name == Mathew Eng
69 | author_title == PharmD
69 | author_order == 40
69 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Mathew.jpg
69 | author_intro == <p><strong>Mathew received his PharmD from the University of Hawaii and an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Washington.</strong></p>    <p>Mathew is a licensed pharmacist with clinical experience in oncology, infectious disease, and diabetes management. He has a passion for personalized patient care and believes that education is essential to living a healthy life. His goal is to motivate individuals to find ways to manage their chronic conditions.</p>
69 | reviewer_id == 4
69 | reviewer_name == Matt Carland
69 | reviewer_title == PhD
69 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
69 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
69 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
69 | publish_date == 2019
69 | publish_date == 11
69 | publish_date == 6
69 | avg_rating == 4.0
69 | tags_id == 179
69 | tags_name == Age-Related Disease
69 | tags_id == 209
69 | tags_name == Alzheimer's Disease
69 | tags_id == 208
69 | tags_name == APOC1 Gene
69 | tags_id == 192
69 | tags_name == Cardiovascular Disease
69 | tags_id == 152
69 | tags_name == Cholesterol
69 | tags_id == 136
69 | tags_name == HDL
69 | tags_id == 191
69 | tags_name == Heart Health
69 | tags_id == 153
69 | tags_name == LDL
69 | tags_id == 101
69 | tags_name == Longevity
69 | permissions_favorite == False
69 | permissions_rate == False
69 | content_article == <table style="width: 90%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Note:</strong> The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene is discussed in SelfDecode&rsquo;s </span><strong><a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/gene-reports/inflammation/"><em>Inflammation DNA Wellness Report</em></a></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, along with many other important inflammation-related genes. If you're looking for a comprehensive report on how your genes may be influencing your inflammatory response and overall levels of inflammation, check it out!</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>What Is The <em>APOC1</em> Gene?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../gene/apoc1/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is named after the protein it codes for &mdash; </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">apolipoprotein C-I</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (or just &ldquo;apoC-1&rdquo; for short). The apoC-1 protein belongs to the <em>apolipoprotein C</em> family of proteins, which all play a role in regulating </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesterol and fat</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the body [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10073946"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is some evidence that certain variations in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene are associated with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lifestyle-diet-increase-longevity/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">longevity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. According to some researchers, these genetic variants may contribute to a longer lifespan by preventing several common age-related health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/alzheimer/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26657933"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3909044/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>How Does apoC-1 Work?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The apoC-1 protein has several mechanisms, and not all of them are fully understood. In general, apoC-1 helps regulate the activity of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">lipoproteins</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which are proteins that are responsible for transporting cholesterol and fat around the body [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10073946"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We&rsquo;ll go into detail about some of these mechanisms in the following sections.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Blocking Lipoprotein Receptors</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lipoproteins, such as </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/ldl-cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LDL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and VLDL, carry cholesterol and fat through the bloodstream. These lipoproteins have corresponding receptors, such as the </span><a href="../../gene/LDLR/?utm_source=seo&amp;#38;utm_medium=selfhacked&amp;#38;utm_campaign=id00002"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LDL receptor</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (LDL-R) that they can bind to. Once attached to these receptors, these lipoproteins are removed from the blood, which will also remove cholesterol and fat from the bloodstream [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10073946"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11353333"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the main functions of apoC-1 is blocking the binding of lipoproteins to their respective receptors, including LDL-R, VLDL-R, and LRP. By inhibiting these receptors, the lipoproteins remain in the bloodstream. The end result is that increased apoC-1 activity leads to increased cholesterol and fat levels in the blood [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10073946"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11353333"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The apoC-1 protein works by blocking lipoprotein receptors, ultimately increasing cholesterol and fat levels in the blood.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Effects on Lipoprotein Enzymes</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The protein apoC-1 increases the activity of an enzyme called </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">lecithin&ndash;cholesterol acyltransferase</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (LCAT). This enzyme facilitates the conversion of cholesterol into </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesteryl ester</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a more transportable form of cholesterol. This ultimately promotes the movement of cholesterol in the body [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10073946"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2910390/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other hand, apoC-1 reduces the activity of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesteryl ester transfer protein</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="../article/cetp-longevity-62"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), which is responsible for moving cholesteryl ester to different lipoproteins. Reducing the activity of CETP may result in reduced cholesterol elimination, increased </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/hdl-cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HDL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> levels, and decreased LDL levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10073946"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4790583/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The apoC-1 protein also changes the activity of enzymes like LCAT and CETP, which can have various effects on cholesterol metabolism.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Effects In the Brain</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">There&rsquo;s some evidence that apoC-1 has specific effects on the immune system in the brain. More specifically, apoC-1 activity may help suppress immune system activity by reducing the expression of cytokines, including </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/supplements-lifestyle-factors-influence-tnf-interleukin-6-il-6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF-&alpha;</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/interleukin-6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-6</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3490924/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to some researchers, this suppression of cytokines may help prevent the formation of amyloid plaques, which are thought to be a major contributor to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3490924/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The apo-C1 protein may help suppress immune system activity in the brain.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>APOC1</em> &amp; Longevity</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research shows there may be a potential link between the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene and longevity. According to researchers, certain genetic variants in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may extend lifespan by preventing age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26657933"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Research</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple genome-wide studies looking at the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene have reported that the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">homozygous major</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) genotype for </span><a href="../../snp/rs4420638/"><strong>rs4420638</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is significantly more common in those who live exceptionally long lives. However, one important limitation is that these studies have only found this association in Caucasian and European groups &mdash; so it remains an open question whether this effect carries over to other ethnic populations as well [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103672/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21740922/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23286790"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5861976/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another study reported that the SNP at </span><a href="../../snp/rs56131196/"><strong>rs56131196</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may also be associated with longevity. In this study, the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">homozygous major</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) genotype was found to be more common in those that live to 80 years or older. However, this finding is also based on data from Caucasian and European groups, and additional studies will be needed to verify the effect of this genotype in other populations [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6175028/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, according to a different study, the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype for </span><a href="../../snp/rs445925/"><strong>rs445925</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is more common in Chinese people with longer lifespans. However, this is dependent on individuals having specific genotypes at 9 other nearby SNPs in a region known as the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TOMM40/APOE/APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> region, which we&rsquo;ll discuss in more detail in the next section [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26657933"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several SNPs in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, including certain variants at rs4420638, rs56131196, and rs445925, are associated with longevity &mdash; but only in certain ethnic groups.</span></span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Relation To Other Genes</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene is located closely next to two other genes: </span><a href="../../gene/tomm40/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TOMM40</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="../../gene/apoe/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOE</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Because of their close proximity, genetic variations in these genes are often inherited together. These genes are usually referred to collectively as the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TOMM40/APOE/APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> region [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26657933"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">These genes also have similar associations, with all three being linked to cholesterol levels, Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and longevity. Studies show that their associations are sometimes affected by one another [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3725963/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22008263"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, as previously mentioned, certain genotypes for rs445925 in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene may be associated with longevity only when specific alleles are present at </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TOMM40</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOE</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26657933"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Genetic variations in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are often inherited together with certain variants in two other nearby genes &mdash; </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TOMM40</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOE</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>APOC1</em> Results for Longevity</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can see your genotypes for these three </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> SNPs in the table below. However, keep in mind that these associations are based on studies from certain ethnic populations, so you should interpret your results with caution if you are not descended from one of these specific groups!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*7150641929990194*</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>APOC1</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs4420638/"><strong>rs4420638</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;AA&rsquo; (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">homozygous major</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) = More common in those who live exceptionally long lives</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;AG&rsquo; / &lsquo;GG&rsquo; = No association with longevity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 72% of people have the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The association between the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype and longevity has so far only been reported in certain Caucasian and European groups</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Other Important SNPs:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>APOC1</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs56131196/"><strong>rs56131196</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;GG&rsquo; (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">homozygous major</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) = More common in those who live exceptionally long lives</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;AG&rsquo; / &lsquo;AA&rsquo; = No association with longevity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 73% of people have the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The association between the &lsquo;GG&rsquo; genotype and longevity has so far only been reported in certain Caucasian and European groups</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>APOC1</em></strong> <a href="../../snp/rs445925/"><strong>rs445925</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;AA&rsquo; = More common in those who live exceptionally long lives</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;AG&rsquo; / &lsquo;GG&rsquo; = No association with longevity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 3% of people have the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The association between the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype and longevity has so far only been reported in certain Chinese groups</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*9912431422126868*</strong></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations For Longevity</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before implementing any of the following strategies, always speak with your doctor first about your options! There may be unexpected interactions with your current medications or health conditions. Also keep in mind that none of these recommendations should ever be used to replace any of the treatments or medications that your doctor gives you.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to researchers, the associations between these </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">APOC1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants and longevity may be driven by lower rates of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease. Luckily, there are several medically-approved lifestyle and dietary changes you can make that doctors believe may help prevent both conditions. Better yet, many of these recommendations overlap, meaning both conditions may benefit from the same things!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*2705256206414574*</strong></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Exercise Regularly</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A sedentary lifestyle is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Studies show that regular </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has numerous benefits for the heart, including improved cholesterol levels, better cardiovascular function, and higher overall quality of life [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3396114/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Consistent exercise may also help prevent or slow the progression of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/alzheimer/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alzheimer's</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> disease. According to some researchers, physical inactivity is one of the most common preventable risk factors for developing Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28067736"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How much exercise is ideal? The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week [</span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Quit Smoking</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you&rsquo;re a tobacco user, quitting smoking can also have great benefits to longevity. Smoking is a very major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is why the AHA strongly recommends against the use of tobacco [</span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Similarly, a smaller amount of evidence suggests that smoking may also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28363508"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">According to many medical experts and several scientific studies, regular exercise, and quitting smoking if you are a tobacco user, may both help improve longevity by reducing your long-term risk of developing cardiovascular disease or Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diet can play a major role in longevity. Cholesterol levels are strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, so foods high in saturated or trans fats should be avoided. For a heart-healthy diet, the American Heart Association recommends eating [</span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vegetables and fruits</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish and other seafood</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Healthy cooking oils (such as olive)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nuts and seeds</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition, the AHA recommends limiting saturated fats.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">There&rsquo;s evidence that diet plays a role in Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease as well. For example, research shows that the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower rates of Alzheimer&rsquo;s and cognitive impairment [</span><a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/alzheimers-and-dementia/what-can-you-do-to-avoid-alzheimers-disease"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24164735"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The components of a Mediterranean diet are similar to the AHA diet recommendations, and include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/olive-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">olive oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, fish, and only limited amounts of red meat [</span><a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/alzheimers-and-dementia/what-can-you-do-to-avoid-alzheimers-disease"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">A proper diet may help protect against cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer&rsquo;s. Some medically-supported recommendations include eating more fruits and vegetables, olive oil, and fish.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Always be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any supplements, as they may interfere with any current medications, could cause unwanted side-effects, or could have unexpected interactions with other health conditions you may have.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to some early research, there are a number of natural products that may help improve cholesterol levels when taken consistently. Some of these include [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27956024"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5429323/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997485"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stanols</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">sterols</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (substances found in plants, including fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and grains)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fiber</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/red-yeast-rice/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Red Yeast Rice</span></a></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, while these compounds and foods may improve cholesterol levels, more clinical studies will still be needed to know for sure whether these improvements also lead to a direct reduction in cardiovascular risk [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27956024"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Also keep in mind that supplements should </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">never</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> be used to replace any cholesterol-lowering medications that have been officially prescribed to you by a doctor!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As for supplements for Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, the evidence is even less clear. There are several natural products that have been claimed to help prevent or improve Alzheimer's, such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ginkgo-biloba/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ginkgo biloba</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">omega-3 fatty acids</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-e-can-help-fertility-pregnancy/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin E</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. However, the evidence behind each of these has been mixed, and much more research is still needed to find out what beneficial effects, if any, these products may have on the development or treatment of Alzheimer&rsquo;s [</span><a href="https://nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/alzheimers"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">There are several supplements touted to help with risk of cardiovascular disease or Alzheimzer&rsquo;s, but the research behind them is still very early and the results are mixed.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
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69 | content_learn_more_9912431422126868_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your APOC1 genotype may be somewhat associated with longevity in certain ethnic groups! However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall longevity — just one gene related to it. Lifestyle and diet changes may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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