Lowering Dementia Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Sufferers: Seven Practices to Consider
Dementia, a debilitating chronic condition with no known cure, poses a concern for many, particularly individuals with Type 2 diabetes. A recent study published in Neurology sheds light on the potential lifestyle changes that could possibly lower the risk of dementia among those with the diabetes condition.
Dementia and Its Risk Factors
Dementia, an umbrella term for conditions affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning, typically progresses over time, significantly impacting one's day-to-day life and independence. Certain risk factors, such as increased age and family history, cannot be altered. However, other factors like smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and Type 2 diabetes can be modified to reduce dementia risk.
Type 2 Diabetes, Dementia, and Lifestyle Factors
The study, led by Dr. Yingli Lu of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China, examined the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk among individuals with and without diabetes. The habits consisted of:
- Abstention from smoking
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Regular physical activity
- A healthy diet
- Adequate sleep
- Less sedentary behavior
- Frequent social contact
In terms of data collection, the researchers utilized the UK Biobank and focused solely on participants aged 60 years or older without dementia at the study's onset. They excluded individuals with Type 1 diabetes for a targeted analysis.
Participants were assigned a healthy lifestyle score based on adherence to the seven aforementioned factors. Definitions for what constituted healthy were provided for each category (e.g., at least 150 minutes/week of moderate activity or 75 minutes/week of vigorous activity, or an equivalent combination).
Over 160,000 participants were involved in the study, with more than 12,000 having Type 2 diabetes. The participants were followed for an average of 12 years, during which researchers found that adhering to a healthy lifestyle was associated with a lower risk of dementia. This risk reduction was more significant among participants with Type 2 diabetes.
Study Limitations and Continued Research
Despite the findings, the study did have limitations. Information on lifestyle behaviors was self-reported, introducing the risk of data collection errors. Furthermore, the researchers collected lifestyle factor data at baseline but did not collect data on any subsequent changes. Also, before developing diabetes, participants' lifestyle factor data was not available.
Additional excluded participants based on missing data were more likely to have lower education and socioeconomic status, which could have impacted the results. Due to data collection methods, the research team acknowledged that they could have misclassified participants with diabetes or prediabetes as not having diabetes.
Additionally, though several confounding factors were adjusted for, such as medication use, unknown or unmeasured factors could remain unaccounted for. The study primarily consisted of Caucasian participants, indicating the need for more diverse studies in the future.
Despite these limitations, the study adds valuable insights into the role of lifestyle choices in health. Dr. Lu explained, "Our data may have important implications for doctors and 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. Future research is needed to determine how combined healthy lifestyle behaviors benefit cognitive outcomes in diabetes and the possible mechanisms."
- The study published in Neurology emphasizes that certain lifestyle changes may lower the risk of dementia for individuals with Type 2 diabetes, a contextual concern for many.
- Dementia, a neurological disorder, is characterized by memory loss, thinking impairment, and reasoning decline, which typically worsens over time.
- While factors like age and family history cannot be altered, others such as smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption, and Type 2 diabetes can be modified to reduce dementia risk.
- The study led by Dr. Yingli Lu, focused on the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk among individuals with and without diabetes.
- These habits included abstaining from smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular physical activity, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, less sedentary behavior, and frequent social contact.
- The research, conducted on participants aged 60 or older, excluded those with Type 1 diabetes and collected self-reported lifestyle data.
- Over a 12-year period, the study found that adhering to a healthy lifestyle was associated with a lower dementia risk, particularly for those with Type 2 diabetes.
- However, the study noted limitations, such as data collection errors, no data on lifestyle changes post-baseline, and possible misclassification of participants with diabetes or prediabetes.
- Despite these limitations, the study suggests that lifestyle changes could potentially contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with Type 2 diabetes, calling for further research in this area.
