Lowering Dementia Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: Adopting These 7 Habits
Diabetes Type 2 and Dementia Risk: Lifestyle Choices Matter
Type 2 diabetes can elevate the risk of dementia, but adopting healthy lifestyle habits may reduce this risk significantly, according to a recent study published in Neurology.
Dementia, a debilitating chronic condition that impacts memory, thinking, and reasoning, has no cure. To mitigate the risk of developing dementia, researchers continue to explore lifestyle factors that can potentially alter the risk.
The recent study found that incorporating seven healthy lifestyle choices could bring down the risk of dementia, with a more pronounced effect observed among individuals with diabetes. These choices included abstaining from smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, eating a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, limited sedentary behavior, and maintaining frequent social connections.
Data from the U.K. Biobank, which includes participants aged 60 and over without dementia at the study's outset, supported the findings. Participants were assigned a lifestyle score based on their adherence to these seven factors, each with specific definitions of 'healthy.'
The study included over 160,000 participants, more than 12,000 of whom had diabetes, and followed them for an average of 12 years. Researchers discovered that healthy lifestyle habits correlated with a decreased dementia risk. This reduction was more apparent among those with diabetes.
The study's lead author, Dr. Yingli Lu, of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China, noted to Medical News Today: "Our findings underscore that, although patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those without, adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle may greatly reduce this risk."
While the study provides promising insights, it had limitations. Lifestyle factors were self-reported and did not account for changes over time. Additionally, the research team acknowledged the potential misclassification of participants with prediabetes as non-diabetic.
Despite these limitations, the study adds to a growing body of knowledge about how lifestyle choices affect 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, as such changes may not only improve overall health but also contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes."
Maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, managing stress, ensuring quality sleep, fostering social connections, and maintaining a healthy weight are all lifestyle factors that can reduce the risk of dementia for those with diabetes. By adopting these habits in combination with appropriate medical management of diabetes, individuals may be able to mitigate the risk of dementia. Future research will refine our understanding of this relationship and the underlying mechanisms.
- In the context of diabetes type 2 and dementia risk, a recent study in Neurology suggests that adherence to a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk.
- Dementia, a chronic condition affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning, remains a debilitating disease without a cure, but lifestyle choices can potentially alter the risk.
- According to the study, seven lifestyle choices were found to lower the risk of dementia, with a more pronounced effect observed among individuals with diabetes.
- These choices include avoiding smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, limited sedentary behavior, and maintaining frequent social connections.
- The study, which followed over 160,000 participants for an average of 12 years, found that healthy lifestyle habits correlated with a decreased dementia risk, particularly among those with diabetes.
- In the realm of health and wellness, maintaining a healthy weight, pursuing fitness and exercise, managing stress, ensuring quality sleep, and nurturing mental health are all critical factors that can reduce dementia risk for those with diabetes.
- Therapies and treatments, in tandem with appropriate medical management of diabetes, can further help individuals mitigate their risk of dementia.
- Future research is required to refine our understanding of the relationship between lifestyle choices and dementia risk, especially among those with chronic diseases like type-2 diabetes.
