Reducing Dementia Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Sufferers: Adopting These 7 Practices Could Make a Difference
Let's Talk Dementia and Diabetes: The Role of Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Dementia, a term that encompasses various disorders affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning, can be a scary thought for many. Since it's currently incurable, it's essential to understand the steps that can help reduce the risk of developing dementia, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. A recent study published in Neurology sheds light on just that.
Dementia is a broad condition that typically worsens over time and can severely impact one's daily life and independence. While some risk factors like age and family history cannot be altered, others can be modified. For instance, smoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, is also a risk factor for dementia. Maintaining diabetes control through healthy lifestyle choices could be crucial in reducing the risk of developing dementia.
This study examined the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk, focusing on people with diabetes and those without. The habits included:
- Regular Exercise: Engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.
- Healthy Diet: Consuming a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
- Adequate Sleep: Aiming for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
- Less Sedentary Behavior: Minimizing the amount of time spent sitting or watching TV.
- Social Connections: Regularly interacting with others through social activities or meetings.
- Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Limiting alcohol consumption to a maximum of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
- Non-Smoking Status: Abstaining from smoking.
The researchers gathered data from the U.K. Biobank, an extensive database of health information. They focused on individuals aged 60 and above, excluding people with type 1 diabetes to concentrate on individuals with type 2 diabetes.
They assigned a healthy lifestyle score to each participant based on the seven habits and followed the participants for an average of 12 years. The study found that adhering to these healthy lifestyle habits was associated with a lower risk of dementia. However, the reduction in risk was more pronounced among participants with diabetes.
Study author, Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China, stated to Medical News Today:
"Our findings highlight that, although patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing dementia later compared to those without, adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle may greatly reduce this risk."
While this study provides valuable insights, it had some limitations. Some data were self-reported, increasing the risk of errors. Additionally, data on changes in lifestyle factors over time were not collected, and data about lifestyle factors before the development of diabetes were not available. The study also excluded individuals based on missing data, who might have had lower education and socioeconomic status, potentially impacting the results.
In conclusion, this study suggests that adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and abstaining from smoking may help reduce the risk of developing dementia, especially for people with diabetes. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings and understand the mechanisms behind them. Dr. Lu further explained to Medical News Today:
"Our data may have important implications for doctors, medical professionals who treat people with diabetes. They should consider recommending lifestyle changes to their patients. Such changes may not only improve overall health but also contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes."
- Regular exercise, as defined by engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, could be a key healthy lifestyle habit for reducing the risk of dementia.
- A well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is another healthy lifestyle choice that may help individuals with or without diabetes lower their risk of developing dementia.
- Aiming for 7-8 hours of sleep per night is also crucial in the context of reducing dementia risk for persons with prediabetes or diabetes.
- In the study, minimizing sedentary behavior, such as minimizing the amount of time spent sitting or watching TV, was identified as a healthy habit that may lower dementia risk.
- Social connections through regular interaction with others could be a potentially beneficial lifestyle factor in the prevention of dementia, according to the research.
- The study found that moderate alcohol consumption, as defined by limiting alcohol consumption to a maximum of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, could be a health-promoting choice that may decrease the risk of dementia, particularly for those with dementia and diabetes.
- Abstaining from smoking, which is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, is another essential lifestyle habit for individuals with diabetes aiming to decrease their risk of dementia.
- The study's results indicated that adhering to these healthy lifestyle habits is associated with a lower risk of dementia, with a more significant reduction in risk seen among participants with diabetes.
- While the study provides valuable insights, it had some limitations, such as data being self-reported, no collection of data on changes in lifestyle factors over time, and the exclusion of individuals based on missing data.
- The study suggests that adopting the paxlovid of healthy lifestyle habits, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, limited alcohol consumption, and abstinence from smoking, may help persons with diabetes reduce their risk of developing dementia.
- Further research is required to confirm these findings and better understand the mechanisms behind the relationship between healthy lifestyle choices and dementia risk, particularly in the context of chronic diseases like diabetes, type-2 diabetes, and other medical conditions.
