10.6084/m9.figshare.5120419.v1 Flöel A. Flöel A. Witte A.V. Witte A.V. Lohmann H. Lohmann H. Wersching H. Wersching H. Ringelstein E.B. Ringelstein E.B. Berger K. Berger K. Knecht S. Knecht S. Supplementary Material for: Lifestyle and Memory in the Elderly Karger Publishers 2008 Cognition, aging Exercise Diet Smoking Alcohol Body mass index Systemic Evaluation and Alleviation of Risk factors for Cognitive Health Study 2008-06-06 00:00:00 Dataset https://karger.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Supplementary_Material_for_Lifestyle_and_Memory_in_the_Elderly/5120419 <i>Background:</i> Healthy lifestyle has been associated with a decreased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but its relationship with memory functions is still inconclusive. This study aims to analyze the association between a composite lifestyle index and memory performance. <i>Methods:</i> In this cross-sectional survey, 198 healthy individuals (aged 65–84 years) underwent tests of verbal episodic memory. A composite lifestyle index was calculated that included the following lifestyle dimensions: physical exercise, dietary habits, BMI, smoking and alcohol consumption. The healthiest behavior was defined as: a BMI <22; a diet high in fruits, vegetables, wholemeal/low-fat foods and unsaturated fatty acids; energy expenditure through physical activity >13,000 kcal/week; a history of never smoking; an alcohol consumption of 4–10 drinks per week. <i>Results:</i> Linear regression analysis revealed that a high lifestyle index score was associated with a better memory score (after adjusting for age, sex, education and blood pressure). The composite index had a stronger relationship with memory scores than single factors. <i>Conclusions:</i> This cross-sectional study revealed that a healthy lifestyle, assessed by a simple composite index, is related to better memory performance in healthy elderly individuals. Our findings point to the importance of a comprehensive modulation of lifestyle factors when finding ways to preserve memory functions in the elderly.