clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk   
Heavy drinkers and smokers develop Alzheimer's disease six to seven years earlier than those who do not smoke or drink, US researchers claim.
Alzheimer's cell
Around 700,000 people currently suffer from dementia in the UK

A study of 900 people aged over 60 found early onset was most likely in those who also had a high-risk gene.

A second US study found people with high cholesterol in their early 40s are one and a half times more likely to develop Alzheimer's.

It's possible that if we can reduce or eliminate heavy smoking and drinking, we could substantially delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease for people and reduce the number of people who have Alzheimer's at any point in time
Dr Ranjan Duara
"High mid-life cholesterol increased the risk of Alzheimer's disease regardless of diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking and late-life stroke," said researcher Alina Solomon.