Research shows that having diabetes makes you more prone to dementia than being genetically at risk.
Experts from Oxford and the University of Exeter believe a heart attack or stroke can pose the same threat.
Adults with all three obesity-induced conditions were three times more likely to develop dementia than “healthy” people without dementia.
Charities said today that the evidence is now clear that “what’s good for your heart is good for your head.”
Results from an analysis of over 200,000 Brits reaffirm the importance of healthy exercise and, above all, nutrition.
Dozens of studies have linked poor heart health to dementia, which affects around 1 million people in the UK and 6.5 million people in the US.
One study evaluated the diets of more than 1,000 seniors for anti-inflammatory foods and followed them for an average of three years. Those on the more anti-inflammatory diet consumed an average of 20 servings of fruit, 19 servings of vegetables, four servings of legumes, and 11 cups of coffee or tea. Compared with this group, those on the least anti-inflammatory diet were three times more likely to develop dementia.
The new study, published in Healthy Longevity Hands, is one of the largest to explore the link.
Lead author Dr Xin You Tai said Dementia is a serious global problem and he predicts that by 2050, 135 million people worldwide will have this devastating condition.
“We found that having these types of heart conditions is more associated with dementia risk than genetic risk.
Whatever genetic risk you are born with, you can potentially have a huge impact on reducing your risk of dementia by taking care of your heart health and metabolism throughout your life.”
Experts studied people over the age of 60 on UK Biobank, a database containing the medical records of half a million Britons, including brain images and genetic data.
They divided 200,000 participants into intermediate-low-risk and high-risk categories based on their genetic chance of developing dementia by carrying genes such as APOE.
The team also noted which patients had cardiometabolic disorders, known as risk factors for dementia.
About 20,000 of the survey respondents were diagnosed with one of three cardiometabolic conditions: diabetes, stroke, or heart attack.
About 2,000 people had two, and 122 had three.
The team found that the more a person has these three conditions, the higher their risk of dementia.
Brain scans submitted to 12,000 participants showed widespread brain damage in people with multiple heart-related conditions.
Adults at high risk for genetic dementia only had disorders in isolated parts of the brain.
Brain cells need a constant supply of blood and oxygen to function properly. Heart attacks and strokes disrupt this blood flow and can lead to loss of brain function.
Experts believe that diabetes can lead to dementia, as it causes high blood sugar, which is known to damage the hippocampus, the brain’s memory center.
Professor David Llewellyn of Exeter, senior author of the study, said: “Many studies look at the risk of a single condition in relation to dementia, but health is more complex than that.
“We know that many patients actually have different conditions.
“Our study says it’s particularly important for people diagnosed with diabetes, stroke or heart attack to take care of their health and make sure they get the right treatment to prevent further problems and reduce their risk of dementia.” †
Dr. “Our research shows that protecting the heart for life likely has significant benefits for the brain as well,” said Kenneth Langa, a research fellow and pharmacist at the University of Michigan.
To take care of your heart, you can exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and do whatever it takes to keep your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol within guidelines.
WHAT IS DEMENTATION? The deadly disease that takes away the agony of your memories
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological disorders.
GLOBAL CARE
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking, and behavior.
There are many different types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common.
Some people may have a combination of dementias.
Regardless of the type of diagnosis, each person experiences dementia in a unique way.
Dementia is a global problem, but it is more common in wealthier countries where people are more likely to live very old.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING?
The Alzheimer’s Association reports that there are more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK today, and more than 500,000 of them have Alzheimer’s.
It is estimated that the number of dementia patients in the UK will exceed 1 million by 2025.
There are approximately 5.5 million Alzheimer’s patients in the United States. A similar percentage increase is expected for the next few years.
As a person ages, the risk of developing dementia also increases.
The number of diagnoses is increasing, but many people with dementia are still thought to be undiagnosed.
IS THERE A TREATMENT?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow progression, and the earlier they are detected, the more effective treatments are.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association
Source: Daily Mail
I am Anne Johnson and I work as an author at the Fashion Vibes. My main area of expertise is beauty related news, but I also have experience in covering other types of stories like entertainment, lifestyle, and health topics. With my years of experience in writing for various publications, I have built strong relationships with many industry insiders. My passion for journalism has enabled me to stay on top of the latest trends and changes in the world of beauty.
