Effect of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors on the Development of Alzheimer’s Disease: Case–Control Study

Objective: Age is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and the increasing population of elderly individuals highlights the importance of preventive measures for public health and economic resources. This study aimed to examine the effects of physical health and lifestyle on AD by comparing them with a healthy control group. Methods: The case-control study included 118 individuals aged 65 and older, consisting of 59 patients diagnosed with AD per the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), and 59 older adults serving as controls. Data collection occurred from September to December 2018 at the Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic. Assessments included the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale (HLBS), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: In contrast to the control group, the patient group exhibited lower levels of education and physical illness (P=.016 and P=.000, respectively), while exhibiting a significantly higher prevalence of hearing impairment or vision loss (P =.000). The patient group had lower total HLBS (P=.000) and subscale scores for physical activity (P=.000), nutrition (P=.019), health responsibility (P=.000), and stress management (P=.000). Conclusion: This study investigated the effects of physical health and lifestyle on AD. Results suggested that increased education levels, intact sensory functions, such as hearing and vision, adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, such as consistent physical activity, a high level of health responsibility, healthy nutrition, and successful stress management may contribute to lowering the risk for the development of AD. Cite this article as: Tarhan İ, Çetingök S, Ipekçioğlu D, Gültekin T. Effect of healthy lifestyle behaviors on the development of Alzheimer’s disease: Case–control study. Arch Health Sci Res. 2025, 12, 0029, doi: 10.5152/ArcHealthSciRes.2025.24029.