Lowering Dementia Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Individuals: Exploring Seven Potential Habits
Dementia has been known to be a pesky health issue with no known cure, so people often ponder ways to reduce their chances of contracting it. A recent study published in Neurology discovered some promising findings regarding type 2 diabetes and healthy lifestyle choices that may help lower dementia risk.
Dementia: An Unwanted Guest
Dementia refers to a set of disorders that can leave individuals struggling with memory, thinking, and reasoning. As the disease progresses, it tends to become more severe and can be quite debilitating, affecting the ability to live independently and participate in daily activities. While factors like age and family history are unmodifiable, people can work on modifying other risk factors to reduce their chance of developing dementia.
Though diabetes can be a risk factor for dementia, particularly type 2 diabetes, the good news is that by incorporating some healthy habits, people can potentially reduce their dementia risk. Researchers are still working diligently to unravel the mysteries surrounding the relationship between lifestyle factors and dementia risk.
Type 2 Diabetes, Dementia, and Lifestyle Factors
Seven healthful habits were analyzed in the aforementioned study to pinpoint which ones could have the biggest impact on reducing the risk of developing dementia among people with or without diabetes. The habits included:
- quitting smoking
- moderate alcohol consumption
- regular physical activity
- eating a balanced diet
- proper sleep
- less sedentary behavior
- frequent social interactions
To gather data, the research team turned to the UK Biobank. They included participants aged 60 and over who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study. The team specifically excluded individuals with type 1 diabetes from the study to focus on type 2 diabetes.
Participants were assigned a healthy lifestyle score based on their adherence to the seven healthy habits listed above. They then followed the participants for approximately 12 years and found that adhering to healthy lifestyle factors was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. This finding was particularly noticeable among participants with type 2 diabetes.
Study author, Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China, explained to Medical News Today:
"The takeaway from our study is that although patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing dementia, adhering to overall healthy lifestyle habits can significantly reduce that risk."
It's worth noting that the study had certain limitations, such as self-reported lifestyle data, data collection errors, and participants being excluded due to missing data, which may have had an impact on the study results. Furthermore, more diverse studies will be needed in the future to ensure the findings can apply to a larger population.
Lifestyle choices play an essential role in public health, and this study adds to the growing body of evidence demonstrating how these choices can help prevent cognitive decline and dementia. Dr. Lu further emphasized:
"Encouraging healthy lifestyle changes to people with diabetes could help improve their overall health and potentially delay or prevent dementia. Future research is necessary to uncover the underlying mechanisms."
Apart from self-reported lifestyle data, there is other evidence to support the importance of dietary patterns, physical activity, weight management, stress reduction, and sleep for cognitive health. For instance, a Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, has been linked to cognitive benefits.
Effective dementia prevention remains a hot topic in healthcare, and research continues to explore ways to improve cognitive health for individuals with type 2 diabetes. By adhering to healthy lifestyle factors, people with diabetes can better manage their condition and potentially lower their dementia risk.
- Dementia, a disorder affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning, can be quite debilitating and affects an individual's independence and daily activities.
- While age and family history are unmodifiable risk factors for dementia, people can work on modifying other factors to reduce their chances of developing it.
- A recent study found that adhering to healthy lifestyle factors, including quitting smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, eating a balanced diet, proper sleep, less sedentary behavior, and frequent social interactions, was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, particularly among those with type 2 diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes can be a risk factor for dementia, but adopting healthy habits may potentially reduce that risk.
- Researchers are still working to understand the relationship between lifestyle factors and dementia risk.
- Effective dementia prevention is a priority in healthcare, and research continues to explore ways to improve cognitive health for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- A Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, has been linked to cognitive benefits.
- Adhering to healthy lifestyle factors can help better manage type 2 diabetes and potentially lower dementia risk, as well as contribute to overall health and wellness, mental health, fitness and exercise, and nutrition.
