Diabetes Type 2 and Dementia: Adopting these 7 habits potentially decreases the dementia risk for individuals dealing with diabetes type 2.
Living with type 2 diabetes may seemingly increase the odds of experiencing dementia, but it doesn't have to be a certain outcome. Researchers are still delving into how lifestyle choices can influence the chances of developing dementia for diabetics. A recent study published in the prestigious Neurology journal offers promising insights.
Dementia and its associated factors
Dementia, a broad term for conditions that hinder memory, thinking, and reasoning, typically worsens over time and can significantly disrupt daily life. Although factors like age and genetic history can't be altered, other risk factors can be modified. Factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor diet are known to heighten the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, is also a risk factor for dementia. By partnering with healthcare providers, people with diabetes can work towards managing their condition and reducing dementia risk. Much research is ongoing to decipher how healthy lifestyle adjustments can boost health and lower dementia risk.
Type 2 diabetes, dementia, and lifestyle practices
In the aforementioned study, researchers investigated the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk. These habits ranged from regular physical activity and maintaining a nutritious diet to having frequent social interactions and less sedentary time.
To gather data, the research team mainly utilized the UK Biobank. They concentrated on participants aged 60 and up, without dementia at the study's inception. Participants with type 1 diabetes were excluded from data collection so the focus could remain on those with type 2 diabetes.
Based on the chosen habits, each participant was given a healthy lifestyle score. This score indicators whether a person meets healthy criteria for each habit category. For instance, someone engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of intense exercise every week was classified as regular physical activity.
The study consisted of over 160,000 participants, including over 12,000 diabetics. After an average follow-up period of 12 years, researchers found that adhering to healthy lifestyle habits was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. This risk reduction was even more significant among participants with diabetes.
Dr. Yingli Lu, Ph.D., one of the study's authors, explained to Medical News Today: "Our findings underscore that although patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing dementia later compared to those without, adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce this risk."
Limitations and ongoing research
While the study suggests that adopting healthy lifestyle habits may help decrease dementia risk, specifically for people with diabetes, there are several limitations. For one, participants self-reported their lifestyle behaviors, leading to the possibility of data collection inaccuracies. Second, lifestyle factor data was only gathered at baseline and not during the duration of the study. Additionally, the study did not take into account lifestyle factors prior to the onset of diabetes.
Excluded participants due to missing data were more likely to possess lower education and socioeconomic status, which could have impacted results. The research team acknowledged the possibility of misclassifying participants with diabetes or prediabetes as non-diabetic.
Moreover, while several confounding factors were adjusted for, unidentified or unmeasured factors may have been overlooked. The study's participants were predominantly Caucasian, and future research should explore more diverse populations.
Notwithstanding these limitations, the study contributes valuable insights to the understanding of how lifestyle choices impact health. Dr. Lu stated to Medical News Today: "Our findings may have essential implications for doctors and other medical professionals working with diabetes patients. By recommending lifestyle changes, they may not only improve overall health but also contribute to the prevention or delayed onset of dementia in people with diabetes. Future research is required to confirm how combined healthy lifestyle behaviors improve cognitive outcomes in diabetes and the potential mechanisms."
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can certainly help manage and reduce the risk of developing dementia for people with type 2 diabetes. Key habits include adopting a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management techniques, ensuring quality sleep, and engaging in social activities. Research continues to uncover powerful connections between lifestyle choices, metabolic conditions, and cognitive health.
- Dementia, a condition that impairs memory, thinking, and reasoning, is typically progressive and can significantly impact one's daily life.
- Although factors like age and genetics can't be altered, other risk factors for dementia, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor diet, can be modified.
- Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, is also a risk factor for dementia. Healthcare providers can help people with diabetes manage their condition and lower dementia risk.
- A recent study published in the Neurology journal explored the impact of seven healthy lifestyle habits on dementia risk, focusing on participants aged 60 and up with type 2 diabetes.
- Researchers categorized each participant based on their adherence to healthy habits, such as regular physical activity, maintaining a nutritious diet, and reducing sedentary time.
- The study found that following healthy lifestyle habits was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, especially among participants with diabetes.
- Dr. Yingli Lu, one of the study's authors, explained that adherence to a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of dementia for people with diabetes.
- Despite the study's limitations, such as self-reported lifestyle behaviors and lack of data on lifestyle factors prior to diabetes onset, it contributes valuable insights to the understanding of how lifestyle choices influence health and may aid in dementia prevention.
