Alcohol use and smoking have long been known to have noxious influences on our health. New research comes to reinforce the idea saying that heavy smokers and drinkers are for more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease earlier than people who do not smoke or drink.

The study, presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting by a team of researchers from Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, analyzed 938 people aged 60 or older diagnosed with possible or probable Alzheimer’s (a disease known to cause confusion, memory loss and behavioral problems).

The researchers led by Ranjan Duara of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach asked family members to provide patients’ histories of drinking and smoking. The team further identified patients who had APOE4, a gene that increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s late in life.

The study found patients who drank more than two alcoholic drinks a day developed Alzheimer’s nearly five years earlier than people who did not drink that much. Patients who smoked a pack a day or more developed the disease 2.3 years sooner. Also, patients who had the APOE4 gene developed the disease three years earlier than those who did not have it.

Overall, patients with the gene who smoked and drank too much developed the disease nine years earlier (average 69) than patients without those risk factors (average age 77).

“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. Duara said, according to BBC News.

“It has been projected that a delay in the onset of the disease by five years would lead to a nearly 50 percent reduction in Alzheimer’s cases,” Dr. Duara added.

This study on “bad habits” influencing the development of Alzheimer’s was accompanied by a second one, presented at the same meeting in Chicago, which stated that high cholesterol levels at 40 increased the risk of Alzheimer’s by about 50 percent.

The study was conducted by Rachel Whitmer, a research scientist with the Kaiser Permanente division of research in Oakland. High cholesterol levels were defined as levels between 249 and 500 milligrams.

The findings of these two studies lead to a very simple conclusion. “The best way to reduce risk is to eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants and vitamins and to exercise regularly. Not smoking, drinking only in moderation and getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly throughout life are also important ways people can reduce their risk of dementia,” Dr. Susanne Sorenson, head of research at the Alzheimer’s Society said.