Lowering Dementia Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Sufferers: Adopting These 7 Habits
Having Type 2 Diabetes Doesn't Mean Dementia is Inevitable — Here's How to Lower Your Risk
If you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you might worry about developing dementia down the line. But don't fret! Research shows that adopting a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk. Here's the lowdown on the latest findings.
Dealing with Dementia: Know the Risks
Dementia is a broad term for a set of disorders that affect memory, thinking, and reasoning. As it progresses, it can make daily tasks challenging and independent living difficult. Although some risk factors, like age and family history, can't be controlled, others can be modified to lower your risk.
Type 2 diabetes is one such risk factor. But guess what? You can work with your doc to manage your diabetes and improve your health, which may further reduce your dementia risk. Let's explore further.
Diabetes, Dementia, and Lifestyle
Recent research looked at how adhering to seven healthy lifestyle habits impacted dementia risk in both individuals with and without diabetes. These habits included:
- Not smoking
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Regular physical activity
- Eating a healthy diet
- Getting adequate sleep
- Less sedentary behavior
- Frequent social contact
The team behind the study gathered data from the U.K. Biobank, focusing on participants over 60 without dementia at the start. They excluded those with type 1 diabetes to concentrate on people with type 2 diabetes. Based on the seven habits listed above, the researchers assigned each participant a healthy lifestyle score.
More than 160,000 participants were part of the study, including over 12,000 with diabetes. The researchers followed the participants for an average of 12 years, discovering that healthy lifestyle factors were associated with a lower risk of dementia. This risk reduction was even more pronounced among participants with diabetes.
The Bottom Line
So, what does this mean for you? It highlights that sticking to a healthy lifestyle can significantly decrease your risk of dementia, particularly if you have diabetes. These findings are important, considering that people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing dementia. But remember, the research doesn't prove that healthy lifestyle choices directly cause a lower dementia risk; it merely indicates a correlation. Still, it's worth taking these findings to heart, as they offer vital insight into how to protect your brain health.
Caveats and Next Steps
Although the study provides valuable information, it isn't without limitations. For instance, the lifestyle data was self-reported, potentially introducing errors. Additionally, the team didn't track lifestyle changes or record data for participants before they developed diabetes. Future studies will need to address these gaps and focus more on diverse populations to confirm these findings.
For now, consider these findings as a jumping-off point for a conversation with your healthcare provider. They can offer guidance on lifestyle changes that may benefit both your diabetes management and your brain health. These changes could include adopting a Mediterranean or MIND diet, focusing on blood sugar management, and engaging in regular physical activity. By making these choices, you'll be taking a proactive step towards reducing your risk of developing dementia, giving you peace of mind in the years ahead.
- A naive assumption might be that having Alzheimer's is inevitable for those with Type 2 diabetes, but it's not.
- Science has shown that adopting certain lifestyle changes can lower the risk of developing dementia, even for those with Type 2 diabetes.
- One such change is regular physical activity, which, according to the study, is crucial for reducing the risk of dementia.
- Another lifestyle habit that positively impacts dementia risk is getting adequate sleep, which is essential for overall health and wellness.
- In addition to physical activity and sleep, a healthy diet also plays a significant role in managing chronic diseases like diabetes and lowering the risk of dementia.
- Therapies and treatments for mental health and type-2 diabetes, such as CBD oil, could potentially lower the risk of dementia. However, more research is needed to confirm this.
- Medicaid covers a range of treatments and medication for managing chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, which may indirectly lower the risk of dementia.
- Fitness and exercise, in conjunction with a balanced diet and adequate sleep, can help manage Type 2 diabetes and lower the risk of dementia.
- Nutrition plays a vital role in managing Type 2 diabetes and maintaining mental health, which, in turn, may help reduce the risk of developing dementia.
