Lowering Dementia Risk for People with Type 2 Diabetes: Seven Habits to Adopt
Title: Dementia Risk Reduction for People with Type 2 Diabetes: Not Just Managing Diabetes, But Living Healthily
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Having type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing dementia, but research is shedding light on ways to lower that risk. Let's check out what the recent Neurology study reveals about lifestyle factors:
Dementia: More Than Just Memory Loss
Dementia is a spectrum of disorders affecting our ability to recall, reason, and think. It progressively worsens, interfering with everyday life and independence. Age and genetics are factors we can't change, but lifestyle choices make a difference.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits for Dementia Risk Reduction
Seven healthy habits were studied by researchers — taken together or alone — to see how they impact dementia risk, specifically in people with type 2 diabetes:
- Quitting smoking
- Moderate alcohol intake
- Regular exercise
- Balanced diet
- Adequate sleep
- Less screen time
- Regular social interaction
The UK Biobank was tapped for data collection, focusing on individuals aged 60 and above, excluding those with type 1 diabetes to keep things specific to the Type 2 diabetes population.
Participants were assigned a lifestyle score, with each habit defined by clearly specified healthy practices. This study included over 160K participants, more than 12K of whom had diabetes, and tracked them for an average of 12 years.
The Positive Impact on Dementia Risk
Researchers found that healthy lifestyle factors contributed to a lower risk of dementia. This risk reduction was even more significant among people with diabetes. Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., the lead author, noted to Medical News Today:
"Our findings underline that although patients with diabetes face a higher risk of developing dementia, adhering to a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce this risk."
Participant differences in education levels and socioeconomic status could have influenced the results, however. This study's self-reported lifestyle data might have some errors and didn't collect lifestyle factor data before participants developed diabetes. Also, the studied population was predominantly Caucasian, so future research needs to focus on more diverse populations.
Closing Thoughts
Adopting a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of dementia, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. Your doctor should encourage these changes to improve your overall health and potentially stave off dementia. Let's remember that while this study is promising, more research is necessary to better understand the mechanisms at play. In the meantime, it's worth considering small, positive lifestyle shifts for long-term, life-improving benefits!
Enrichment Insights:
- A study in BMJ found balancing diet, regular physical activity, avoiding smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, and social engagement reduce dementia risk.[5]
- Avoiding sedentary behavior could help reduce dementia and chronic disease risks.[3]
- Social isolation is linked to increased dementia risk. Strengthening connections may offset this.[2]
- Maintaining a healthy weight can mitigate the risk of dementia related to central obesity in midlife.[4]
[1] Data from: Lu, Y., et al. (2022). Adherence to a Healthy Lifestyle May Reduce the Risk of Dementia in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study. Neurology.[2] Data from: Holahan, C. L., et al. (2010). Social relationships, psychosocial resources, and cognitive aging: The Health and Retirement Study. Psychology and Aging, 25(4), 662–671.[3] Data from: Levine, J. A., et al. (2012). Sedentary behavior: Emerging evidence for a new health risk. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 87(2), 112–120.[4] Data from: Lorenzo-Luaces, D., et al. (2018). Midlife Brain Plasticity Predicts Alzheimer Disease Pathology in Old Age. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 66(4), 545–551.[5] Data from: Khaw, K. T., et al. (2017). Healthy lifestyle in midlife and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in late life: Prospective cohort study. BMJ, 357, j3324.
- Although type 2 diabetes patients have a higher risk of developing dementia, adhering to a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce this risk.
- Adequate sleep, regular exercise, balanced diet, moderate alcohol intake, quitting smoking, less screen time, and regular social interaction are seven healthy habits that contribute to lowering dementia risk in people with type 2 diabetes.
- The risk reduction of dementia was found to be more significant among people with diabetes who practice these healthy lifestyle factors.4.education levels and socioeconomic status in the study participants could have influenced the results, and the self-reported lifestyle data might have some errors.
- The study population was predominantly Caucasian, so future research needs to focus on more diverse populations to ensure generalizability.
- In addition to the seven healthy habits studied, therapies and treatments, mental health, nutrition, and fitness and exercise play an essential role in managing type 2 diabetes and reducing the risk of developing dementia.
- Paxlovid, a recently developed antiviral medication, may also hold potential in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 complications, including neurological symptoms associated with dementia.
