A recent study has highlighted the compounded risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in individuals with cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), emphasizing the critical role of healthy lifestyle choices in mitigating these risks. The research, published in Scientific Reports, explored the connections between air pollution, lifestyle factors, and cognitive decline in patients with conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
The study found that CMD patients are at a significantly higher risk of developing MCI and dementia compared to healthy individuals, with those suffering from three CMDs facing the highest risk. Hazard ratios for MCI, all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s, and vascular dementia in patients with three CMDs were substantially higher than in the general population, with figures ranging from 1.216 to 2.032.
Ambient air pollution was identified as a major contributing factor to these outcomes, with pollutants such as PM2.5, NO2, and NOX exacerbating the risk. However, the study also revealed that maintaining a healthy lifestyle—especially in areas such as physical activity, smoking cessation, and strong social relationships—can significantly reduce the adverse effects of air pollution on cognitive health.
The study used data from the UK Biobank, which tracks the health information of over 500,000 adults. The data included medical histories, air pollution exposure, and lifestyle factors. The research found that among the 438,681 participants analyzed, those with CMDs exhibited a much higher incidence of dementia and MCI, and these risks increased with the number of CMDs a patient had. Furthermore, those living in areas with higher levels of air pollution had significantly greater chances of developing cognitive issues.
Interestingly, patients who maintained healthier lifestyles, despite high exposure to pollutants, demonstrated lower risks of dementia and MCI, underscoring the protective power of lifestyle changes.
This study is the first to examine the interplay between CMDs, air pollution, and lifestyle choices in relation to cognitive decline. It calls attention to the escalating global dementia crisis, with projections indicating that more than 57 million people currently live with the disease, a number expected to rise dramatically.
The findings reinforce the importance of prevention and lifestyle modification as tools in combating cognitive decline, especially for those already at risk due to cardiometabolic conditions. Clinicians and healthcare providers are urged to emphasize the significance of lifestyle improvements in managing both cardiometabolic diseases and their associated dementia risks.
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