Diabetes Type 2 and Dementia: Adopting These 7 Habits Could Reduce Risks for Affected Individuals
Lowering Dementia Risk in Type 2 Diabetes: The Role of Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Dementia, a chronic and debilitating condition that affects memory, thinking, and reasoning, may hold increased risk for people with type 2 diabetes. As research continues to explore lifestyle factors that can minimize dementia risk, a recent study suggests that healthy lifestyle choices can lead to a reduced risk of dementia for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Dementia is an umbrella term for various disorders that impact cognitive abilities. Its progression is often gradual and may significantly interfere with an individual's independence over time. While some risk factors for dementia, such as advanced age and family history, remain unalterable, other factors can be modified.
Unhealthy habits like smoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Type 2 diabetes is also thought to elevate the risk of dementia. Managing diabetes through lifestyle modifications and medical treatment may help reduce the risk of dementia.
To better understand the impact of healthy lifestyle changes on dementia risk among people with diabetes, researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine analyzed data from the UK Biobank. Specifically, they included participants ages 60 years or older who did not have dementia at the study's onset and excluded those with type 1 diabetes.
Participants were assigned a healthy lifestyle score based on their adherence to seven factors:
- Current non-smoker status
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Regular physical activity (as defined by at least 150 minutes/week of moderate activity, 75 minutes/week of vigorous activity, or an equivalent combination)
- A healthy diet
- Adequate sleep
- Reduced sedentary behavior
- Frequent social contact
Over 160,000 participants, including more than 12,000 with diabetes and 148,000 without, were followed for an average of 12 years. The study found that healthy lifestyle factors were associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, with an even more pronounced effect observed in those with diabetes.
Dr. Yingli Lu, the study author from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, commented on the findings: "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."
Likewise, non-study author and Alzheimer's researcher Dr. Jeroen Mahieu acknowledged the importance of adhering to healthy lifestyle habits, emphasizing that further research is necessary to confirm these effects as causal.
Despite the study's encouraging findings, self-reported lifestyle data, possible data collection errors, and unaccounted-for confounding factors may have influenced the results. As such, future research will be necessary to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.
However, when interpreted in conjunction with other relevant research, these latest findings suggest that people with type 2 diabetes may be able to reduce their risk of dementia by adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, reduced sedentary behavior, moderate alcohol consumption, and frequent social engagement. Further investigation and targeted interventions are needed to better understand the implications for reducing dementia risk among individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Related Factors:
- Dietary Choices: Opting for a Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. Limiting red meat consumption, particularly processed red meat, may also help reduce dementia risk.
- Physical Activity: Regular exercise benefits overall health, reduces cognitive impairment risks, and is beneficial for maintaining cognitive health.
- Sedentary Behavior Reduction: Minimizing sedentary behavior can help prevent neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.
- Social Engagement and Cognitive Activity: Engaging in social networks and cognitive activities can help increase cognitive reserve and improve cognitive function.
- Sleep and Stress Management: Adequate sleep and effective stress management are vital for maintaining cognitive health and reducing inflammation.
- The role of healthy lifestyle choices in lowering dementia risk is especially significant for people with type 2 diabetes, given their elevated risk of dementia.
- Variations in dietary choices, such as adopting a Mediterranean diet, may help lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- Regular exercise, which benefits overall health, could potentially reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and contribute to maintaining cognitive health in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Lowering sedentary behavior can help prevent neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, providing another avenue for reducing dementia risk for those with type 2 diabetes.
- Engaging in social networks and cognitive activities might increase cognitive reserve and improve cognitive function, which could be particularly beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes who are at an increased risk of dementia.
- Adequate sleep and effective stress management are crucial for maintaining cognitive health and decreasing inflammation, which may help minimize the risk of dementia among people with type 2 diabetes.
- Pursuing therapies and treatments focused on mental health, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, could further aid in reducing dementia risk for people with type 2 diabetes.
- In the context of health and wellness, managing type 2 diabetes through optimal nutrition, fitness, and exercise could lead to improved mental health, as well as a lower risk of chronic diseases and dementia.
