Lowering Dementia Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Sufferers: Adopting these 7 Habits
Diabetes sufferers should be aware that they might face an increased risk of dementia. The science behind this is still being unraveled, but researchers believe lifestyle choices can make a difference.
There's no need to panic. A recent study published in Neurology reveals that people with type 2 diabetes can lower their risk of dementia by embracing healthy habits.
Dementia: Understanding the Threat
Dementia, a term for brain disorders affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning, is a significant concern. As it progresses, it can create havoc in daily life and independence. Age and family history are among the unalterable risk factors, but others are within our control. Bad habits like smoking, obesity, and excessive drinking are dangers for Alzheimer's and dementia.
Diabetes is also a dementia risk factor, but medical management and these healthy lifestyle choices could make a difference.
Healthy Choices, Healthy Brain
The scientists behind this study looked at seven healthy behaviors that could impact dementia risk. They focused on smokers-turned-non-smokers, moderate drinkers, frequent exercisers, dieters enjoying nutritious meals, good sleepers, and people cutting down on inactivity and increasing social interactions.
They used data from the U.K. Biobank, selecting participants aged 60 or older, healthy at the start, and leaving out those with type 1 diabetes. They assigned lifestyle scores to each participant based on their adherence to these guidelines.
The study involved over 160,000 participants, including more than 12,000 with diabetes. Researchers followed the participants for about 12 years, and the results were clear: healthy choices reduced dementia risk. Moreover, this effect was more significant among diabetes patients.
Dr. Yingli Lu, lead author of the paper, explained to Medical News Today: "Our findings show that an overall healthy lifestyle greatly reduces the risk of developing dementia in diabetes patients, suggesting that advice about lifestyle changes to doctors and other medical professionals could be crucial in diabetes management."
However, it's important to remember that while this study provides valuable insights, it has limitations. Data about lifestyle behaviors was self-reported, and the team did not collect changes in lifestyle factors. Also, some participants had to be excluded due to missing data, raising questions about their socioeconomic status.
Despite these limitations, the study underscores the importance of healthy habits for people with diabetes. These choices could not only benefit their overall health but also potentially delay the onset of dementia.
As Dr. Lu told Medical News Today: "Our data may have important implications for doctors and medical professionals. By recommending lifestyle changes, they can not only improve overall health but also contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes."
So, adopt healthy habits today for a brighter tomorrow! Care for your body and mind, and reap the benefits.
Additional Tips for Reducing Dementia Risk
Beyond these lifestyle modifications, consider the following tips to further reduce your risk of dementia:
- Healthy Diet: Dine on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats
- Regular Exercise: Engage in both low and moderate-high intensity exercise to maintain brain health
- Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Regular exercise and a balanced diet can help maintain a healthy weight
- Quitting Smoking: Kick the habit to lower your risk of dementia
- Reducing Stress: Practice meditation, yoga, or other stress-reduction techniques to improve overall health and well-being
- Improving Sleep Quality: Prioritize quality sleep for cognitive health
- Social Interaction: Stay engaged in social activities to help maintain cognitive function and reduce dementia risk.[2][5]
By doing so, you may decrease your risk of developing dementia and safeguard your future health!
- Persons with type 2 diabetes can lower their risk of dementia by adopting healthy habits.
- Dementia, a disorder affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning, can create havoc in daily life and independence.
- Age and family history are unalterable risk factors for dementia, but others are within our control.
- Healthy lifestyle choices, such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and improving sleep quality, can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia.
- Researchers, focusing on seven healthy behaviors, found that healthy choices reduced dementia risk, particularly for diabetes patients.
- A recent study in Neurology looked at smokers-turned-non-smokers, moderate drinkers, frequent exercisers, dieters, good sleepers, and people cutting down on inactivity and increasing social interactions.
- The study involved over 160,000 participants, including more than 12,000 with diabetes, and followed them for about 12 years.
- Healthy choices, like a balanced diet, regular exercise, and good sleep, could potentially delay the onset of dementia in people with diabetes.
- Dementia research is ongoing, and the exact mechanisms linking diabetes and dementia are still being unraveled by science.
- In addition to these lifestyle modifications, other strategies like maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, reducing stress, and improving sleep quality can also help reduce dementia risk.
- Therapies and treatments, like nutrition counseling, mental health support, and fitness and exercise programs, could further assist in preventing dementia and managing chronic diseases like type-2 diabetes.
