Lowering Risk of Dementia for Type 2 Diabetes Sufferers through Adopting These 7 Practices
Not Your Typical Sugar High: Healthy Lifestyle Choices Lower Diabetes-Related Dementia Risk
Worried about dementia? If you have type 2 diabetes, adopting certain healthy habits could lower your risk. A recent study in Neurology investigated the impact of lifestyle choices on dementia risk among those with diabetes and those without.
Dementia and its risk factors
Dementia is a group of disorders interfering with memory, thinking, and reasoning, usually getting worse over time. Although age and family history are unalterable factors, several lifestyle choices can help reduce dementia risk.
Smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and type 2 diabetes are all associated with a higher risk of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. However, by making some tweaks to your routine, you can lower your chances of developing this debilitating condition.
Diabetes, dementia, and lifestyle modifications
Study participants - over 160,000, including those with and without diabetes - were assigned a healthy lifestyle score based on the following factors:
- Abstaining from smoking
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Regular physical activity
- Balanced nutrition
- Adequate sleep
- Minimized sedentary behavior
- Frequent social interactions
Researchers discovered that adopting these healthy lifestyle choices reduced dementia risk in both diabetic and non-diabetic participants. However, the positive effects were more significant for those with diabetes.
Dr. Yingli Lu, the study author, highlighted the importance of healthy lifestyle changes for those with diabetes, stating, "Adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle may greatly reduce the risk of developing dementia for diabetes patients."
But take note, Dr. Jeroen Mahieu, an Alzheimer's researcher, advises caution in interpreting these findings, as they do not necessarily prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship between healthy lifestyle choices and dementia risk reduction.
A Fresh Twist on Old Habits
Although this study does not supply specific practices for people with type 2 diabetes, related research and expert reviews consistently stress several lifestyle factors that are broadly associated with decreased dementia risk. Here's a list of essential habits that can help counteract the risk of brain disorders like dementia, especially for individuals with type 2 diabetes:
- Maintaining a Healthy Weight: managing body weight reduces the risk of metabolic complications and protects brain health in aging populations.
- Regular Physical Activity: consistent exercise improves glycemic control and cardiovascular health, both crucial for reducing dementia risk.
- Good Sleep Hygiene: adequate, quality sleep supports metabolic health and cognitive function and is protective against age-related brain disorders.
- Limiting Alcohol Intake: cutting back on alcohol helps preserve brain cells and reduces the risk of cognitive decline.
- Balanced Nutrition: adhering to healthy dietary patterns, such as the MIND diet, lowers dementia risk and helps manage diabetes.
By embracing these lifestyle choices, you can enjoy better overall health and a lower risk of dementia, even if you have type 2 diabetes. However, ongoing research is essential to determine the combined benefits of healthy lifestyle behaviors on cognitive outcomes in diabetes and the possible mechanisms behind these improvements.
In conclusion, it's never too late to make positive changes for your health. By focusing on a healthy weight, physical activity, good sleep, moderating alcohol consumption, and balanced nutrition, you can lower your risk of developing dementia, even if you have type 2 diabetes. As Dr. Lu puts it, "Doctors should consider recommending lifestyle changes to their patients, as such changes may not only improve overall health but also contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes."
- Recent science has shown that regular physical activity can lower the risk of dementia for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- People with type 2 diabetes can reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease by adopting a balanced nutrition approach, such as the MIND diet.
- Adequate sleep is crucial for both metabolic health and cognitive function, helping reduce the risk of age-related brain disorders, including dementia.
- For those with type 2 diabetes, medical-conditions like dementia can be mitigated by minimizing sedentary behavior and engaging in fitness-and-exercise activities.
- The contextual impact of healthy lifestyle changes on the risk of chronic diseases, such as dementia and type-2 diabetes, shows promise in studies like the one published in Neurology.
- The higher the number of healthy lifestyle factors a person with type 2 diabetes adopts, the more significant the reduction in dementia risk, according to research.
- CBD, a compound found in cannabis, is being studied for its potential role in mental-health support and mental-health-related chronic diseases like dementia.
- When it comes to health-and-wellness, considering all factors—from nutrition to fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and chronic-diseases—is essential to maintaining a balanced, healthy life, especially when managing conditions like type-2 diabetes.
