Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Can Lower Dementia Risk for Those with Type 2 Diabetes
Altering type 2 diabetes risk for dementia: Seven practices to consider
Dementia is a serious condition that affects memory and cognitive abilities, and while it doesn't have a cure, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Recent research presented in the esteemed journal Neurology suggests that practicing certain healthy lifestyle choices can lower the risk of dementia, particularly for people with type 2 diabetes.
Dementia and Its Risk Factors
Dementia is an umbrella term for various disorders that impair memory, thinking, and reasoning. As the condition usually worsens over time, it can limit a person's ability to perform daily activities and live independently. While some risk factors, like age or family history, can't be altered, other risk factors can be managed to reduce the risk of dementia. This includes avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol consumption, among other lifestyle modifications.
Type 2 diabetes is also a risk factor for dementia, especially for those with the condition. But this study reveals that by adopting a healthy lifestyle, people with diabetes can significantly reduce their risk of developing dementia.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits for People with Type 2 Diabetes
In the current study, researchers examined the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk. They looked at both diabetes patients and those without diabetes. The habits they focused on included:
- Not smoking
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Regular physical activity
- Eating a healthy diet
- Adequate sleep
- Less sedentary behavior
- Frequent social contact
The study utilized the extensive U.K. Biobank dataset, including participants aged 60 or older without dementia at the study start. They excluded participants with type 1 diabetes to focus specifically on individuals with type 2 diabetes. Participants were assigned a healthy lifestyle score based on their adherence to the seven habits mentioned above.
The study included over 160,000 participants, with more than 12,000 having diabetes. After following the participants for an average of 12 years, findings showed that incorporating healthy lifestyle habits was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. This risk reduction was even more pronounced among participants with diabetes.
Study author, Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China, shared their findings with Medical News Today:
Non-study author and Alzheimer's researcher, Dr. Jeroen Mahieu, Ph.D., noted to MNT:
Study Limitations and Future Research
While the study indicates that incorporating healthy lifestyle habits can decrease the risk of dementia, particularly among people with diabetes, it had several limitations. This includes self-reported data on lifestyle behaviors, which may have introduced errors, and the lack of data on lifestyle factor changes and pre-diabetes.
The researchers accounted for several confounding factors, but unknown or unmeasured factors may still impact the results. Additionally, the study included mainly Caucasian participants, with future research needed to investigate the effects among more diverse populations.
Despite these limitations, the study reinforces the importance of practicing healthy habits for overall health and reducing the risk of dementia. Dr. Lu explained to MNT:
- Dementia, an impairment of memory and cognitive abilities, is a serious condition that affects daily activities and independence, with risks exacerbated by certain conditions like type 2 diabetes.
- While some risk factors, such as age or family history, are unalterable, others, like smoking, diet, and exercise, can be managed to reduce the risk of dementia.
- A study presented in Neurology suggests that a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of dementia, particularly for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- The study, focusing on 160,000 participants, found that adherence to healthy lifestyle habits, such as abstaining from smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, less sedentary behavior, and frequent social contact, was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia.
- People with diabetes who followed these habits showed an even more significant reduction in dementia risk.
- The study's findings highlight the importance of healthy lifestyle choices for reducing the risk of dementia, particularly for those with type 2 diabetes.
- However, the study had limitations, including self-reported data and a lack of data on lifestyle factor changes and pre-diabetes, which impact the results' interpretations.
- Future research is needed to better understand the benefits of combined healthy lifestyle behaviors on cognitive outcomes in diabetes and their possible mechanisms, and to investigate the effects among more diverse populations.
