Diabetes Type 2 and Dementia: Seven Habits that Could Potentially Reduce the Risk for Sufferers
Diabetes and Dementia: Can Healthy Lifestyle Choices Lower the Risk?
Contemplating ways to lower the risk of dementia is a common concern for many. A recent study published in Neurology delved into the impact of healthy habits on dementia risk for individuals with type two diabetes.
Dementia: An Overview
Dementia is a chronic disorder that impacts memory, thinking, and reasoning abilities. As it progresses, it can profoundly disrupt daily activities and independent living. Some risk factors for dementia, such as age and family history, are unalterable. However, other factors can be modified to reduce the risk.
Type two diabetes is one such risk factor linked to an increased risk of dementia. By working closely with healthcare providers and adopting healthy habits, people with diabetes can improve their overall health and potentially lower their dementia risk.
Lifestyle Factors and Dementia Risk
The study analyzed seven healthy lifestyle habits and their association with dementia risk for both diabetics and non-diabetics. These habits included:
- Non-smoking
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Regular physical activity
- Healthy diet
- Adequate sleep
- Less sedentary behavior
- Frequent social interaction
Researchers utilized the UK Biobank for data collection, focusing on participants aged 60 and above without dementia at the study's onset. Participants with type one diabetes were excluded to narrow the focus on type two diabetes.
Participants were assigned a healthy lifestyle score based on their adherence to the seven aforementioned factors. For example, someone was classified as physically active if they engaged in at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
The study included over 160,000 participants, with more than 12,000 diagnosed with diabetes. After an average follow-up of 12 years, researchers discovered that healthy lifestyle habits were associated with a decreased risk of dementia. This risk reduction was even more pronounced for individuals with diabetes.
Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., one of the study's authors, noted to Medical News Today:
"Our findings underscore the fact that people with diabetes, although at a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those without, can significantly reduce this risk by adhering to a healthy lifestyle."
Limitations and Future Research
While the study suggests that healthy lifestyle choices may decrease the risk of dementia, particularly for those with diabetes, it also had several limitations. Data on lifestyle behaviors was self-reported, increasing the potential for errors. Additionally, the researchers collected lifestyle factor data only at baseline and did not collect data on changes in lifestyle factors.Lastly, although several confounding factors were considered, the authors acknowledge that there may be unmeasured factors that were not accounted for, and more diverse studies are required to validate these findings.
Nevertheless, the study adds to the growing body of evidence emphasizing the importance of lifestyle choices in maintaining overall health. Dr. Lu explained further to Medical News Today:
"Our data may have significant implications for medical professionals who treat people with diabetes. They should consider recommending lifestyle modifications to their patients, as these changes could not only improve overall health but also contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes. Further research is needed to determine how combined healthy lifestyle behaviors benefit cognitive outcomes in diabetes and the possible mechanisms."
In addition to the lifestyle habits discussed in the study, other recommendations for reducing dementia risk include maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, practicing stress management, improving sleep quality, and fostering social interactions.
- A person with dementia experiences difficulties with memory, thinking, and reasoning, affecting their daily activities and independence.
- Dementia is a chronic disorder, and while some factors like age and family history are unchangeable, others can be modified to lower the risk.
- Type 2 diabetes is one such modifiable risk factor linked to an increased risk of dementia.
- By adhering to healthy habits and working closely with healthcare providers, individuals with diabetes can minimize their dementia risk.
- The study investigated the association between seven healthy lifestyle habits and dementia risk, both for diabetics and non-diabetics.
- These habits included non-smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, healthy diet, adequate sleep, less sedentary behavior, and frequent social interaction.
- The study, published in Neurology, utilized the UK Biobank for data collection and excluded participants with type 1 diabetes.
- Participants were given a healthy lifestyle score based on their adherence to the seven lifestyle factors.
- The study revealed that adherence to healthy lifestyle habits was associated with a reduced risk of dementia, particularly for those with diabetes.
- Dr. Yingli Lu, one of the study's authors, highlighted that people with diabetes could significantly lower their dementia risk by adopting healthy habits.
- The study's limitations included self-reported lifestyle data, lack of data on lifestyle changes, and possible unmeasured factors; therefore, more diverse studies are needed to validate these findings and further research is important to determine the benefits of combined healthy behaviors on cognitive outcomes in diabetes, potentially contributing to dementia prevention or delayed onset.
