Lowering Dementia Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Sufferers: 7 Habits to Follow
Diabetes Type 2 and Lowered Risk of Dementia: Healthy Lifestyle Habits Play a Role
People with Type 2 diabetes may be at a higher risk for developing dementia. However, recent research published in Neurology suggests that adopting certain healthy lifestyle choices can lower this risk.
Dementia, a chronic condition that impacts memory, thinking, and reasoning, does not yet have a cure. As people age and as research continues, understanding how to minimize dementia risk becomes increasingly crucial.
Type 2 diabetes, a risk factor for dementia, affects millions worldwide. Fortunately, through the careful management of their condition, individuals with diabetes can potentially decrease their dementia risk.
Researchers from a recent study examined the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk, both for those with and without diabetes. These habits included:
- avoiding smoking
- moderating alcohol consumption
- partaking in regular physical activity
- following a nutritious diet
- getting sufficient sleep
- minimizing sedentary behavior
- fostering frequent social contact
Data for the study was collected from the U.K. Biobank, which included participants aged 60 years and older without dementia at the study's start. Participants with Type 1 diabetes were excluded to concentrate on those with Type 2 diabetes.
Participants were scored based on their adherence to each lifestyle factor, with specific criteria such as obtaining at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise. The study included over 160,000 participants, more than 12,000 of whom had diabetes. Participants were tracked for an average of 12 years, with findings indicating that healthy lifestyle factors reduced the risk of dementia. This risk reduction was particularly significant among participants with diabetes.
Study author Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China, commented to Medical News Today:
"Our findings underscore that although patients with diabetes face a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those without, adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle can markedly minimize this risk."
While this study provides evidence that healthy lifestyle habits may lower dementia risk, particularly for those with Type 2 diabetes, there were several limitations. Notable among these were self-reported lifestyle data and the exclusion of participants with missing data who tended to have lower education and socioeconomic status.
Yet, the study's findings have potential implications for medical professionals treating patients with diabetes. Dr. Lu explained to Medical News Today:
"Our data may hold important implications for doctors and other medical professionals treating people with diabetes. They should consider recommending lifestyle changes to their patients, as these improvements can not only improve overall health but also potentially contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes."
Future research will be necessary to further understand the interplay between healthy lifestyle habits, diabetes, and dementia risk.
[Reference(s):
1: Alzheimer's Association (2021). What are the risk factors and causes of Alzheimer's? [online] Alz.org. Available at: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/risk-factors [Accessed 9 Mar. 2023].5: Alzheimer's Society (2020). Physical activity and dementia. [online] Alzheimers.org.uk. Available at: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/causes-and-risk-factors/risk-factors-for-dementia/physical-activity-and-dementia [Accessed 9 Mar. 2023].]
- Adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercise, diet, and sleep, may lower the risk of dementia, especially for individuals with Type 2 diabetes.
- Dementia is a chronic condition associated with memory loss, impaired thinking, and decreased reasoning, and there is currently no cure.
- While Type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for dementia, its effects can be mitigated through careful management of the condition.
- A comprehensive study on the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk considered factors like regular exercise, nutrition, social interaction, and sufficient sleep.
- Researchers in the study found that individuals who adopted healthy lifestyle choices had a significantly lower risk of dementia, especially those with Type 2 diabetes.
- Potential limitations of the study included self-reported lifestyle data and the exclusion of participants with missing data, who often had lower educational and socioeconomic status.
- The study's findings have implications for medical professionals treating patients with diabetes, who may recommend lifestyle changes to help prevent or delay the onset of dementia.
- Further research is necessary to fully understand the interplay between healthy lifestyle habits, Type 2 diabetes, and dementia risk, as well as other chronic diseases like dementia, mental health issues, and certain medical conditions like sleep disorders and Alzheimer's disease.
