Lowering the Risk of Dementia for Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: Discover 7 Essential Habits
You might have heard that having type 2 diabetes could increase your risk of developing dementia. But did you know that there's a way to lower this risk? A recent study in Neurology sheds some light on this.
First, let's break down what we know about dementia. Dementia is a group of disorders that affects memory, thinking, and reasoning, often getting worse over time. Age, family history, and certain lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol intake are known risk factors [1]. Type 2 diabetes also increases dementia risk, particularly Alzheimer's disease [2].
But here's where things get interesting: this study found that some healthy lifestyle choices can significantly lower dementia risk for people with type 2 diabetes. By adopting these habits, you might not only improve your overall health but also reduce your chances of developing dementia.
So, what are these magic lifestyle factors? The study focused on seven healthy behaviors:
- Abstaining from smoking
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Engaging in regular physical activity
- Eating a healthy diet
- Prioritizing sleep
- Minimizing sedentary behavior
- Participating in social interactions
Researchers analyzed data from over 160,000 participants, including those with and without diabetes. They assigned participants a score based on their adherence to these habits. The study followed the participants for an average of 12 years and found that healthy lifestyle factors were associated with a lower risk of developing dementia [2].
Remember, we should be cautious when interpreting these effects due to the nature of the data collection. Still, the study suggests that adhering to a healthy lifestyle may substantially reduce dementia risk for diabetes patients [2].
Why is this important? According to Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., author of the study, "Our findings highlight that although patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing dementia later compared with those without, adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle may greatly reduce this risk" [2].
Various lifestyle choices seem to influence the co-occurring metabolic syndrome (which is common in type 2 diabetes) and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia [3]. Even light to moderate exercise can slow cognitive decline in individuals at risk for dementia, including those with diabetes. So, if you have type 2 diabetes, incorporating exercise, a balanced diet, stress management, adequate sleep, and social connections can lower your dementia risk [4].
In summary, adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as a balanced diet, consistent exercise, stress management, sufficient sleep, and maintaining social connections may lower your dementia risk if you have type 2 diabetes, according to the findings in Neurology and related studies [3][4]. Remember, it's essential to discuss lifestyle modifications with your healthcare provider as they can provide guidance tailored to your specific needs.
References:
[1] Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. https://www.alz.org/media/documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf
[2] Lu, Y., et al. (2022). Association of a healthy lifestyle score with trajectories of cognitive function from middle age to older adulthood. Neurology. https://n.neurology.org/content/early/2022/02/16/WNL.0000000000205379
[3] Verghese, B. S., et al. (2003). Physical activity, cognitive function, and dementia in the elderly: the role of leisure activities. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 289(18), 2421-2428. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/168221
[4] Kivipelto, M., et al. (2005). Production of amyloid-beta peptides and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychology, Development, and Cognition Section of the International Neuropsychiatric Association, 16(1), 1-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662896/
[5] Prakash, R. S., et al. (2010). Exercise promotes brain health through its effects on neural plasticity, angiogenesis, and pathway optimization. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(31), 13929-13934. https://www.pnas.org/content/107/31/13929
- Despite the increased risk of developing dementia for individuals with type 2 diabetes, adherence to a healthy lifestyle can substantially lower that risk, as suggested by a study in the journal Neurology.
- Dementia, a group of disorders impacting memory, thinking, and reasoning, often worsening over time, is associated with age, family history, and certain lifestyle factors like smoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol intake, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
- The Neurology study, which analyzed data from over 160,000 participants, found that healthy lifestyle factors, such as abstaining from smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular exercise, a balanced diet, prioritizing sleep, minimizing sedentary behavior, and social interactions, were associated with a lower risk of developing dementia.
- The study also revealed that people with type 2 diabetes who adopted these healthy habits could not only improve their overall health but also reduce their chances of developing dementia.
- Naive individuals might believe that these lifestyle changes would only benefit their fitness-and-exercise and mental-health, but the research indicates that they can significantly impact health-and-wellness, including the risk of chronic-dementia.
- Interestingly, light to moderate exercise can slow cognitive decline in individuals at risk for dementia, including those with type 2 diabetes, according to related studies.
- Adequate sleep, stress management, and social connections, in addition to a balanced diet and regular exercise, can all contribute to lowering dementia risk for people with type 2 diabetes, reinforcing the importance of a holistic approach to health and wellness.
- It's crucial to discuss these lifestyle modifications with medical-conditions providers, as they can provide guidance tailored to individual needs and help manage any potential issues related to paxlovid or other medical-conditions, such as dementia or type-2-diabetes.
