Diabetes Type 2 and Dementia: Seven Practices That Could Potentially Decrease the Risk for Affected Individuals
Living Healthily with Type 2 Diabetes May Lower Dementia Risk
Having type 2 diabetes can potentially increase one's risk for developing dementia. However, adhering to specific healthy lifestyle habits can help decrease the risk. A recent study published by Neurology shed some light on this. Here's a lowdown on the findings.
Understanding Dementia and its Risk Factors
Dementia affects memory, thinking, and reasoning, gradually worsening over time and interfering with daily life activities. While factors like age and family history are unalterable, modifiable risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption, and type 2 diabetes, can be managed to reduce the risk.
Type 2 diabetes, in particular, is closely linked to dementia. By partnering with healthcare providers, individuals with diabetes can take control of their condition and enjoy better health. As research progresses, we learn more about how lifestyle adjustments can enhance health and potentially reduce dementia risk.
Type 2 Diabetes, Dementia, and Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Researchers in this study examined the impact of seven healthy habits on reducing dementia risk. Their focus was on both diabetics and non-diabetics, evaluating the benefits of habits such as:- Quitting smoking- Moderate alcohol consumption- Regular exercise- Balanced diet- Adequate sleep- Minimizing sedentary behavior- Frequent social interaction
U.K. Biobank supported their data collection and included participants aged 60 or older who did not have dementia at the study's outset. Participants with type 1 diabetes were excluded to focus on people with type 2 diabetes.
A healthy lifestyle score was assigned to each participant based on the seven factors mentioned earlier. Definitions for each category were established, such as individuals classified as regularly physically active if they engaged in at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.
The study involved over 160,000 participants, with more than 12,000 having diabetes. Participants were monitored for an average of 12 years, and researchers found that adopting healthy lifestyle habits was connected to a decreased risk of dementia. However, this risk reduction was noticeably more significant among participants with diabetes.
Dr. Yingli Lu from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine said, "Our findings indicate that while patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those without, adhering to a healthy lifestyle can greatly lower this risk."
On the other hand, Jeroen Mahieu, a non-study author and Alzheimer's researcher, cautioned that while the study suggests a reduced dementia risk for diabetics with healthy habits, the research design does not qualify the effects as causal.
Study Limitations and Future Research Directions
Despite its findings, the study had certain limitations, including self-reported lifestyle data, lack of data on lifestyle factor changes, and potential misclassification of participants with diabetes or prediabetes. The study team also acknowledged that unknown and unmeasured factors may have been overlooked.
Additionally, the study's participants were primarily Caucasian, meaning that further research with diverse populations will be needed. The authors concluded that their data could have significant implications for healthcare professionals treating diabetic patients, emphasizing the potential positive effects of lifestyle changes on diabetes management and dementia prevention.
"Our data may have important implications for doctors and healthcare professionals who treat people with diabetes," said Dr. Lu. "By recommending lifestyle changes, they could potentially improve overall health and contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes. Future research is needed to determine the intricate benefits of combined healthy lifestyle behaviors on cognitive outcomes in diabetes, and the possible underlying mechanisms."
- The study highlighting the link between type 2 diabetes and dementia was published by Neurology.
- Dementia affects memory, thinking, and reasoning, interfering with daily life activities, and while factors like age and family history are unalterable, modifiable risk factors can be managed.
- Type 2 diabetes is closely linked to dementia, but adhering to a healthy lifestyle can potentially reduce the risk.
- Researchers in the study examined the impact of seven healthy habits on reducing dementia risk, focusing on both diabetics and non-diabetics.
- The study found that adopting healthy lifestyle habits was connected to a decreased risk of dementia, and this reduction was more significant among participants with diabetes.
- Dr. Yingli Lu, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, stated that adhering to a healthy lifestyle can greatly lower the risk of dementia for people with diabetes.
- Jeroen Mahieu, a non-study author and Alzheimer's researcher, cautioned that while the study suggests a reduced dementia risk, the research design does not qualify the effects as causal.
- The study findings may have significant implications for healthcare professionals treating diabetic patients, emphasizing the potential positive effects of lifestyle changes on diabetes management and dementia prevention, with future research needed to determine the intricate benefits and possible underlying mechanisms.
