Habits That Potentially Decrease Dementia Risk for Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes
It's a known fact that people with type 2 diabetes may face an increased risk of dementia. But what's interesting is that researchers are still trying to figure out how lifestyle choices can influence this risk.
According to a recent study published in Neurology, adopting certain healthy habits can actually lower the risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes. So, if you've got diabetes, keep reading to learn about the lifestyle factors that may help protect your brain.
Dementia and its risk factors
Dementia is a condition that affects memory, thinking, and reasoning. It typically worsens over time and can significantly impact daily life. Sometimes, dementia can't be prevented, but there are factors you can change to lower your risk.
Smoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol use are all known risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Type 2 diabetes is also a risk factor, especially for developing dementia. Luckily, diabetes is a condition that can be managed, and research suggests that making certain lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of dementia.
Type 2 diabetes, dementia, and lifestyle factors
Researchers in this current study looked at the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk. They focused mainly on participants with type 2 diabetes. The habits they examined included:
- Quitting smoking: Smoking is horrible for your health, and it can increase the risk of dementia. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your brain.
- Moderate alcohol consumption: Drinking in moderation has been linked to better cardiovascular health, which is good for your brain. But remember, too much alcohol can have negative effects.
- Regular exercise: Exercise is crucial for maintaining brain health and managing diabetes. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week.
- Eating a healthy diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help reduce the risk of dementia. Try to limit your intake of processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats.
- Adequate sleep: Getting enough sleep is important for your overall health, and it can help improve memory and cognitive function. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
- Limiting sedentary behavior: Sitting too much can increase the risk of dementia. Try to find ways to move more throughout the day, like taking breaks to stand or stretch.
- Socializing: Frequent socialization can help reduce stress, which is good for your brain. So make time for friends and family.
Researchers used data from the U.K. Biobank for their study. They included participants aged 60 or older who didn't have dementia at the start of the study. They specifically excluded people with type 1 diabetes to focus on individuals with type 2 diabetes. The study included more than 160,000 participants, including over 12,000 with diabetes.
The researchers gave each participant a healthy lifestyle score based on their answers to questions about the seven habits. Participants with higher scores were considered to have healthier lifestyles. They followed the participants for an average of 12 years and found that people with healthier lifestyles had a lower risk of developing dementia. This was particularly true for people with diabetes.
Study author Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China, told Medical News Today:
"Our findings highlight that although patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing dementia later compared with those without, adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle may greatly reduce this risk."
Jeroen Mahieu, Ph.D., an Alzheimer's researcher who wasn't involved in the study, also weighed in:
"The most important finding of this study is that adhering to a healthy lifestyle substantially reduces the risk of developing dementia for diabetes patients; significantly more than when you do not have diabetes. This is important given the greater prevalence of dementia among diabetes patients. Yet, due to the nature of the data and the research design, we should be cautious with interpreting these effects as causal."
Study limitations and areas for continued research
The study suggests that adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce the risk of dementia, especially for people with diabetes. However, it's important to note that the study had some limitations.
First, the lifestyle data was based on self-reporting, which can lead to errors. Second, the researchers didn't collect data on lifestyle factor changes or lifestyle factors before participants developed diabetes. And finally, although some confounding factors were adjusted, there may be other factors that were not accounted for.
Despite these limitations, the study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that lifestyle choices can influence health. Dr. Lu explained to Medical News Today:
"Our data may have important implications for doctors, and other medical professionals who treat people with diabetes. They should consider recommending lifestyle changes to their patients. Such changes may not only improve overall health but also contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes. Future research is needed to determine how combined healthy lifestyle behaviors benefit cognitive outcomes in diabetes and the possible mechanisms."
- Despite type 2 diabetes potentially increasing the risk of dementia, recent research indicates that adopting healthy habits can help lower this risk.
- Smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and type 2 diabetes are all known risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
- In their study, researchers examined the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk, focusing primarily on participants with type 2 diabetes.
- Quitting smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular exercise, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, limiting sedentary behavior, and socializing are the lifestyle factors under examination.
- Researchers found that participants with healthier lifestyles had a lower risk of developing dementia, particularly those with diabetes.
- Study author Dr. Yingli Lu suggested that adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle may significantly reduce the risk of dementia for individuals with diabetes.
- However, it is important to note that the study had limitations, such as self-reported lifestyle data, the lack of data on lifestyle changes before diabetes, and possible unaccounted confounding factors.
- Despite these limitations, the study supports the growing evidence that lifestyle choices can impact health, and doctors should consider recommending lifestyle changes to their patients with diabetes.
