Brain shrinkage in men is forecasted a decade ahead of occurrence
Living with cardiovascular disease risk factors isn't just harmful to your heart - it can also increase your chances of developing dementia. This has been proved time and time again through various studies.
For instance, developing diabetes early in life can significantly boost your risk of dementia. As your weight and blood pressure rise, so does your risk of cognitive decline. Smoking, a known culprit for heart and lung problems, can also be just as dangerous for your brain, with research indicating that male smokers may lose their cognitive abilities more quickly than non-smokers. Even secondhand smoke can increase the risk of dementia.
However, it seems that men need to pay particular attention to their hearts, possibly a decade earlier than women. According to scientific findings, men's vulnerability to dementia due to cardiovascular risk factors starts around the age of 55 and lasts up to 74 years. In contrast, women are most susceptible between 65 and 74 years old. This means that men should focus on maintaining a healthy weight and managing other heart disease risk factors earlier to combat dementia.
Heart Risk Factors and Brain Volume Loss
A recent study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, analyzed data from 34,425 participants of the UK Biobank. Using the Framingham Risk Score, they assessed heart disease risk and cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and diabetes. They then compared these factors to changes in brain structure and volume, which are indicators of cognitive decline and dementia development.
The study found that higher levels of abdominal fat and deep belly fat (visceral adipose tissue) were associated with lower brain grey matter volume in both men and women. This reduction in brain volume is particularly detrimental as it affects regions processing aural, visual, and emotional information, as well as memory - the same regions that are impacted early on in dementia.
Interestingly, the study also found that the influence of cardiovascular risk factors on brain neurodegeneration occurred a decade earlier in men than in women, and their effect on dementia risk was stronger in men.
Reducing Heart Risk to Reduce Dementia Risk
The researchers concluded that, "Targeting cardiovascular risk and obesity a decade earlier in males than females may be imperative for potential candidates to achieve a therapeutic benefit in preventing neurodegeneration and cognitive decline." In simpler terms, men should prioritize managing their weight and reducing other heart disease risk factors at a younger age to help prevent dementia. This involves quitting smoking, eating right, and exercising regularly to lose weight; all of which also reduce the risk of diabetes.
One effective strategy to tackle multiple risk factors (blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight) at once is to increase your intake of flavonoids like anthocyanins, fisetin, quercetin, and isoflavones. For more information on natural ways to reduce blood clots and support long-lived hearts, check out Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures and Common Misconceptions of Popular Heart Treatments!
Sources:- Men at high risk of cardiovascular disease face brain health decline 10 years earlier than women - EurekAlert!- 10 scientifically proven ways to lower your dementia risk - Easy Health Options- Tight blood pressure control may be key to closing the door on dementia - Easy Health Options- Is your weight putting you at risk for Alzheimer's? - Easy Health Options- How age, diabetes, and dementia intersect - Easy Health Options
- The correlation between dementia development and cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as obesity and diabetes, has been evident in numerous studies, including a recent one published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
- Evidence suggests that men, particularly those aged 55 to 74, are more susceptible to the impact of heart disease risk factors on dementia, compared to women of similar ages, who are at higher risk between the ages of 65 and 74.
- The influence of cardiovascular risk factors on brain neurodegeneration and cognitive decline occurs a decade earlier in men than in women, according to the aforementioned study.
- By reducing heart disease risk factors, such as managing weight, quitting smoking, and eating a healthy diet, men can potentially delay or even prevent the onset of dementia, as suggested by the researchers in the study mentioned above.
