Diabetes Type 2 and Dementia: Adopting these 7 habits may potentially decrease the risk for individuals diagnosed with diabetes type 2.
Ditching dementia ain't a guaranteed thing, but those with type 2 diabetes can give themselves a better shot by living a healthier lifestyle, according to a recent study published in Neurology. Now, we all know dementia ain't no walk in the park - it's a chronic condition that messes with your memory, thought processes, and everyday life. And since there's no cure, the best we got is figuring out ways to lower our risk.
This study found that people with type two diabetes saw a reduced risk of developing dementia if they followed certain healthy lifestyle choices. So, let's break it down:
- If you ain't lighting up butts, you're already doing better than some folks.
- Moderate drinks here and there probably won't hurt.
- Regular exercise (150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous each week) is crucial for maintaining good metabolic health and brain function.
- Eating a balanced diet rich in veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, while avoiding processed foods, goes a long way in managing blood sugar levels and supporting your brain.
- Getting enough Z's and limiting sedentary behavior keeps your body and mind active, enhancing overall health.
- Maintaining frequent social connections helps foster a positive mental attitude, which can't hurt when it comes to warding off dementia.
To gather data, researchers snooped around in the U.K. Biobank, including over 160,000 participants aged 60 or older, with more than 12,000 having diabetes. They tracked the participants for an average of 12 years and found that people who followed these habits were less likely to develop dementia. Correlation ain't causation, so we should be cautious in interpreting these findings.
Dr. Yingli Lu, one of the researchers, noted, "Adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle may greatly reduce this risk for those with diabetes." ButJeroen Mahieu, an Alzheimer's researcher, added some important caveats, "Due to the nature of the data and the research design, we should be cautious with interpreting these effects as causal."
Still, there were limitations to this study. Information about lifestyle behaviors was self-reported, increasing the likelihood of errors. Additionally, they did not collect data on changes in lifestyle factors, or factor information before people developed diabetes.
In future research, we gotta keep an eye out for cognitive outcomes in diabetes, learn how combined healthy behaviors impact brain health, and examine the underlying mechanisms. Until then, we got some general insights from other research: maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, managing weight, quitting smoking, and stress reduction can all reduce dementia risk. Stay healthy, folks!
- Dementia is a chronic condition that affects memory, thought processes, and daily life, and while it's not guaranteed to be avoided, those with type 2 diabetes may lower their risk by adopting a healthier lifestyle.
- The study found that people with type 2 diabetes who follow certain healthy lifestyle choices are less likely to develop dementia.
- Abstaining from smoking is one of the healthy lifestyle choices that can potentially lower the risk of dementia.
- Moderate alcohol consumption might not harm, but excessive drinking might increase the risk of developing dementia.
- Regular physical activity, such as 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous each week, is essential for maintaining good metabolic health and brain function.
- Maintaining a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, while avoiding processed foods, can help manage blood sugar levels and support the brain.
- Adequate sleep and limiting sedentary behavior are necessary for overall health, as they keep the body and mind active.
- Building and maintaining strong social connections could help foster a positive mental attitude, which may contribute to a lower risk of dementia. Researchers should continue to study the impact of cognitive outcomes in diabetes, combined healthy behaviors on brain health, and the underlying mechanisms for future insights on dementia prevention.
