Altering one's lifestyle might potentially decrease the risk of developing dementia for individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Dementia Risk and Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes may be at an increased risk for developing dementia, though recent research suggests that adopting certain healthy lifestyle habits can help lower that risk. The findings were published in the medical journal Neurology.
Dementia, a condition that affects memory, thinking, and reasoning, does not have a cure. Consequently, individuals are often keen to understand how they can reduce their risk of developing dementia. A recent study reveals that for those with diabetes, maintaining healthy habits can contribute to a lower dementia risk.
Dementia encompasses a range of disorders that impact cognitive function and typically worsens over time. Age and family history are factors that cannot be altered, but other risks, such as smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and type 2 diabetes, can be modified.
Type 2 diabetes, in particular, raises dementia risk. By collaborating with their healthcare providers, people with diabetes can manage their condition and reinforce their overall health. Studies are ongoing to determine if healthy lifestyle changes can improve conditions like diabetes and lower dementia risk.
Researchers in the current study investigated seven healthy lifestyle practices and their impact on dementia risk among individuals with and without diabetes. These habits included smoking cessation, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, less sedentary behavior, and frequent social interaction.
The data for this study was collected from the U.K. Biobank, which included participants aged 60 or older without dementia at the study's onset. Individuals with type 1 diabetes were excluded to focus on people with type 2 diabetes. Each participant was allocated a healthy lifestyle score based on their adherence to the seven behavior categories.
The study involved over 160,000 participants, with more than 12,000 having diabetes. Over the course of an average 12-year follow-up, researchers found that maintaining healthy lifestyle habits reduced the risk of developing dementia, particularly among individuals with diabetes.
Dr. Yingli Lu, the study's lead author, commented to Medical News Today, "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."
Jeroen Mahieu, a non-study author and Alzheimer's researcher, explained to MNT, "The most important finding of this study is that adhering to a healthy lifestyle substantially reduces the risk of developing dementia for diabetes patients, significantly more than when you do not have diabetes. However, due to the nature of the data and the research design, we should be cautious interpreting these effects as causal."
The study has several limitations, as lifestyle behavior information was self-reported, which increased the potential for data collection errors. Additionally, the researchers did not collect data on changes in lifestyle factors or factors before diabetes diagnosis. Participants who were missing data were more likely to have lower education and socioeconomic status, which could have impacted the results. Moreover, the research team acknowledged that they may have misclassified participants with diabetes or prediabetes as not having diabetes.
Furthermore, although various confounding factors were adjusted for, such as medication use, there remained potential unknown or unmeasured factors unaccounted for. The study had a predominantly Caucasian sample, indicating that more diverse studies will be needed in the future.
Despite these limitations, the study adds to the growing body of evidence demonstrating how lifestyle choices impact health. Dr. Lu emphasized, "Our data may have important implications for doctors and other medical professionals treating people with diabetes. They should consider recommending lifestyle changes to their patients. Such changes could not only improve overall health but also contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes. Future research is needed to determine how combined healthy lifestyle behaviors benefit cognitive outcomes in diabetes and the possible mechanisms."
By adopting a healthy lifestyle, individuals with type 2 diabetes may lower their risk of developing dementia. A balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, adequate sleep, and maintaining social connections are all practices that can help. Collaborating with healthcare professionals to manage type 2 diabetes and embrace healthy habits is vital for overall well-being and potentially even delaying or preventing dementia.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/dementia.htm[2] https://www.alzheimers.net/alzheimers-disease-and-diabetes/[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-complications/art-20046367[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5505137/[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4853269/
- While dementia has no known cure, the risk can be reduced for individuals with type 2 diabetes through adopting healthy lifestyle habits, as suggested by recent research in the medical journal Neurology.
- Dementia, a disorder affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning, can be worsened by factors such as smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and type 2 diabetes.
- The study published in Neurology investigated seven healthy lifestyle practices and their impact on dementia risk among individuals with and without diabetes, including smoking cessation, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, less sedentary behavior, and frequent social interaction.
- In the study involving over 160,000 participants, those with diabetes who adhered to a healthy lifestyle showed a significantly lower risk of developing dementia compared to those without diabetes.
- It is important to acknowledge that the study had limitations, such as self-reported lifestyle data, potential data collection errors, and a predominantly Caucasian sample, which may have impacted the results.
- As research continues to unveil the connections between lifestyle choices and health outcomes, it becomes increasingly clear that therapies and treatments for chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and dementia may benefit from a focus on health and wellness, including nutrition, fitness and exercise, and mental health.
- For individuals with type 2 diabetes, managing the condition in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle can contribute to overall well-being and potentially even delay or prevent dementia.
- As more diverse studies are conducted, the science of dementia and its relationship to diabetes and other medical-conditions will continue to advance, offering new insights and opportunities for therapies and treatments.
