Some researchers estimate that dementia will increase by 100% between the years 2001 and 2020 in the United States. Anything that can reduce dementia disease risk, or delay the age of onset is important.
Now a new study published August 6, 2010 online in BMJ gives us some suggestions for diet and lifestyle changes that could bring down the incidence of dementia. Things like cutting the rates of diabetes and depression, encouraging education and upping the intake of fruits and veggies.
While no one yet knows the precise cause of dementia, experts have identified a few risks – heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol – all well within your control.
Study lead Karen Ritchie, MD, senior research director at the French National Institute of Medical Research, and a professor at Imperial College London points out that this study is the first to estimate the advantages of eliminating various risk factors for dementia. While this type of research can’t determine cause and effect, it can suggest direction for public health programs.
Dementia, a medical term often misused, isn’t so much a disease, but a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms that can be caused by any number of disorders that affect the brain.
It is not a normal part of the aging process, though it is common in the elderly. Having memory loss (admittedly a common symptom of dementia) isn’t enough; doctors look for two or more brain functions being impaired without loss of consciousness. And the impairment must be severe enough to impact normal daily activities and relationships.
This most recent dementia research included 1,433 healthy adults (over age 65) living in the south of France. Subjects underwent cognitive testing by a neurologist at the start of the study and again in years two, four and seven in order to judge any dementia and/or mild cognitive impairment. Blood pressure and blood samples were also taken at these visits, and tests of intelligence and to identify any depressive symptoms were also administered. When the study began and during all follow up sessions, subjects provided details on their medical history as well as information on diet, education, monthly income, alcohol consumption and use of tobacco.
At the end of the study, there were 405 cases of dementia and/or mild cognitive impairment.
When the numbers were crunched, the researchers concluded that eliminating depression and diabetes, and an increased intake of fruits and veggies would bring an overall 21% reduction in new cases of dementia.
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Lifestyle Changes That Impact Dementia Risk… Continued…
Taking away depression alone leads to a 10% reduction, but this is no reason to assume a causal link between depression and dementia.
Increasing education would also reduce new cases of dementia by 18% in the general population over the next seven years.
Eliminating the primary known genetic risk factor leads to only a 7% reduction in dementia risk. Working on other risk factors beyond genetics may hold much promise.
The researchers believe the message to clinicians is that from young adulthood on efforts should be made to prevent patients from being exposed to risk. Work with them to avoid insulin dependence before it gets to the diabetes stage. Identify and treat depression when it occurs. Encourage literacy and continuing education no matter your age. Relay the importance of a balanced, healthy diet to the body.
Research continues on minimizing the risk of developing dementia disease. In the meantime, know that there’s a whole lot you can do to keep body and mind healthy as you age. But you’d better start today.
