Lowering dementia risk for type 2 diabetes patients: Adopting these seven habits could offer protection
Diabetes Type 2 suspects may face a heightened risk of dementia, but that doesn't mean it's a foregone conclusion. A recent study in the journal Neurology suggests that adopting certain health-conscious habits can significantly lower the risk of dementia, especially for those with diabetes.
Dementia and Dangerous Factors
Dementia, a broad term for brain disorders affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning, is often progressive and can severely impact daily life. While factors such as age and family history can't be controlled, other risk factors like smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and diabetes are modifiable.
Diabetes, notably type 2 diabetes, is a significant risk factor for dementia. By working closely with medical professionals and practicing healthy habits, people with diabetes can potentially minimize their dementia risk.
Type 2 Diabetes, Dementia, and Better Choices
In this particular study, researchers highlighted seven lifestyle habits that could help reduce the risk of dementia. These habits included:
- Quitting smoking: Give up smoking for good.
- Moderate drinking: Keep consumption within recommended limits.
- Regular exercise: Stay active through physical activity.
- Healthy eating: Opt for a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.
- Enough sleep: Ensure you're getting the recommended amount of shut-eye.
- Less sedentary behavior: Avoid spending too much time sitting and try to keep moving.
- Social connections: Build strong relationships and stay socially active.
Using data from the U.K. Biobank, the research team analyzed participants aged 60 or older who did not have dementia at the start of the study. They focused on people with type 2 diabetes and excluded those with type 1 diabetes.
Each participant was assigned a healthy lifestyle score based on these seven factors, with specific definitions for each behavior. For example, someone was considered active if they engaged in at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
The study, which included over 160,000 participants including more than 12,000 with diabetes, found that practicing healthy habits was associated with a reduced risk of dementia. The positive effect was even more pronounced for people with diabetes.
Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China, remarked: "Our findings indicate that even though people with diabetes face a higher risk of dementia compared to those without diabetes, adopting a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce this risk."
It's important to note that while this study offers promising insights, it also had some limitations. Data on lifestyle behaviors was self-reported, increasing the risk of errors. The study did not collect data about lifestyle changes and did not collect data about lifestyle factors before diabetes was diagnosed.
Additionally, the study included mainly Caucasian participants, indicating that more diverse studies will be necessary in the future. Researchers acknowledge that misclassification of participants with diabetes or prediabetes may have occurred, and that unmeasured or unknown factors could impact results.
Despite these limitations, the study's findings underscore the importance of healthy habits for both diabetes management and dementia risk reduction. Medical professionals should consider recommending lifestyle changes to their patients, as these changes could not only improve overall health, but also contribute to preventing or delaying the onset of dementia in people with diabetes. Further research is needed to understand how these habits work together to positively impact cognitive outcomes in diabetes patients.
In addition to the habits discussed in the study, other healthy practices, such as adopting healthy dietary patterns (like the Mediterranean or MIND diet), maintaining a healthy weight, managing blood pressure, and practicing good sleep hygiene and stress management, can also help lower the risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes.
- For persons with type 2 diabetes, adopting a healthy lifestyle can potentially minimize their risk of dementia, as suggested by a recent study published in the journal Neurology.
- The study, conducted on participants aged 60 or older, found that practicing healthy habits is associated with a reduced risk of dementia, particularly for those with diabetes.
- This research identified seven lifestyle habits that could help lower the risk of dementia, including quitting smoking, moderate drinking, regular exercise, healthy eating, enough sleep, less sedentary behavior, and social connections.
- Ensuring these health-conscious practices can be considered as a crucial part of the medical-condition management for both diabetes patients and those at risk of dementia.
- Apart from the identified habits, other health measures such as adopting healthy dietary patterns (like the Mediterranean or MIND diet), maintaining a healthy weight, managing blood pressure, and practicing good sleep hygiene and stress management can further contribute to reducing the risk of dementia in persons with type 2 diabetes.
- As scientists continue to investigate the complex relationship between dementia and chronic diseases like diabetes, understanding the impact of lifestyle choices in the context of health-and-wellness and mental-health will play an integral role in fostering a long, healthy, and cognitive-function preserving life.
- It's imperative that medical professionals consider retargeting lifestyle changes for their patients with chronic-diseases, as these changes not only improve the overall health but also contribute to preventing or delaying the onset of dementia in diabetes patients, demonstrating a naive potential in utilizing science to combat these dangerous factors.
