en تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research <p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Introduction:</strong> Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease (AD) is a chronic condition characterized by gradual decline of mental abilities and behavioral disorders, which decreases the quality of life in elderly people. The aim of this study was to evaluate behaviors that may prevent elderly people from AD in Yazd.</span></span></p> <p></p> <p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Methods:</strong> This cross-sectional study was conducted on 220 people aged from 60 to 70 years in Yazd. Cluster random sampling method was used for selecting the participants. Data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire that included demographic information and questions on AD preventive behaviors (physical activity, mental activity, nutrition, and social interaction). The score range of each part and the overall behavior score was from zero to 100. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software and application of descriptive and inferential statistical methods.</span></span></p> <p></p> <p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Results:</strong> The mean score of preventive behaviors was 44.6. The highest mean score (56.48) was for nutrition while the lowest mean score (32.03) was for mental activity. Only 15 % of the studied elderly consumed fruit regularly in their diet, which was followed by consumption of vegetable, 11.4 % and fish 9.1 %. There was a significant positive correlation between education level and behavior score (p < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant gender difference (p > 0.05) in mean scores of the overall behavior and scores of married older adults compared to those of divorced or single, had a statistically significant difference (p = 0.007).</span></span></p> <p></p> <p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Conclusion</strong>: The overall AD preventive behaviors in elderly are undesirable, remarkably as noted in physical and mental domains. The majority of participants did not regularly have fruits, vegetables, and fish in their daily and weekly diets. Numerous socio-demographic factors affect these behaviors. More studies are required to identify barriers of healthy behaviors.</span></span></p> Elderly, Alzheimer’s disease, Prevention, Behavior 16 22 http://ehj.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-55-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mohammad Ali Morowatisharifabad No Elderly Health Research Center, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Zahra Fallah zfallah88@yahoo.com Yes Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Reza Bidaki No Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Zahra Hashemian No MD, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital Hossein Fallahzadeh No Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Mohammad Rafatifard No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Hamid Aghabagheri No International Campus, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran