14 Modifiable Risk Factors to Prevent Dementia...or Maybe Not

A report came out in the journal The Lancet Neurology in July 2024. The report built on other reports going back to 2017. All of the reports listed lifestyle risk factors that may contribute to lowering your risk of Dementia.

I’m really excited that the scientific community puts out reports like this. Normally they say:

“You don’t need to change your lifestyle. Just take this drug instead.”

Here are the 14 risk factors, along with my thoughts based on what I’ve seen in my assisted living homes. As always, this is not medical advice:

1. LDL Cholesterol - The report states this, along with hearing loss, are the two biggest risk factors for dementia. A high LDL reading may increase your chances of Dementia by 7%. I am skeptical of this. As I discussed in my last newsletter, LDL may be a function of whether you’re in a fat burning mode or not. Eating a low carb diet we are finding is good for Alzheimer’s. Yet these low-carb diets can also raise LDL cholesterol.

2. Hearing Loss - I definitely agree with this one. Many of our residents who have dementia also have hearing issues. Studies have also found that hearing aids reduce the effects of dementia. So protect your hearing!

3. Hypertension - Seems like lots of people who checks in to our assisted living homes have high blood pressure. It is very common among the elderly. My thoughts are that it may be more the underlying causes of hypertension that could contribute more to dementia. Hypertension may be a result of those causes just like dementia might be a result. A good diet and lots of exercise can go a long way in reducing your risk of hypertension.

4. Smoking - I would encourage everyone not to smoke for lots of health reasons. However, this one seems a little puzzling to me. Smoking was a whole lot more popular in the 1960s and 1970s than it is today. Yet the rates of Alzheimer’s and Dementia are much higher today.

   

5. Obesity - I can definitely believe this can make a difference. When you’re obese, your body suffers from inflammation, including your brain. Your cells become more insulin resistant, which is a big reason for Alzheimer’s.

6. Depression - I highly recommend checking out Georgia Ede’s book ‘Change Your Diet Change Your Mind’ for more about depression and Alzheimer’s. Dr Ede is a Harvard-trained psychologist who says most mental disorders are the result of diet. Both depression and Alzheimer’s have in common a lack of Serotonin in the brain. If you suffer from depression, try to fix your diet. You may be able to avoid Alzheimer’s as well.

7. Physical Inactivity - The more I learn about chronic disease, the more I am convinced exercise, along with diet are the two biggest wonder drugs in the world. Those residents in our assisted living homes who want nothing to do with exercise seem to be the ones who decline the fastest.

8. Diabetes - I firmly believe those people with diabetes have a much higher risk of Alzheimer’s. When you are insulin resistant, glucose can’t fuel your brain as well as it should. There’s a reason they’re calling Alzheimer’s Type 3 Diabetes.

9. Excessive Alcohol Consumption - Alcohol is sugar. And just like all those bad foods you eat, alcohol contributes to metabolic disfunction. Are you starting to see some common threads in all these lifestyle factors?

10. Traumatic Brain Injuries - My friends at A Mind for All Seasons treat a lot of ex-NFL players for cognitive issues. Many of them have had multiple concussions during their playing days. Repeated brain trauma can also contribute to Parkinson’s and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Most of us are well-past our sports playing days. But you can still have an accident that results in a concussion. Be careful out there!

11. Air Pollution - The Bredesen Protocol mentions toxins as one of the three contributing factors for Alzheimer’s. I can definitely believe this one.

12. Social Isolation - This one drove me crazy during the Covid Pandemic. I did everything I could to keep our seniors socializing, even if they could not see their families. I truly believe a lot of nursing home deaths came more from isolation and depression than Covid.

13. Vision Loss - Although our vision generally deteriorates as we age, there is a lot you can do to reduce vision loss. Diabetics often have serious vision loss, as do alcoholics. Vision loss in regards to Alzheimer’s may be more a function of underlying inflammation, in my opinion.

14. Less Education Early in Life - I’m not sure if education alone makes that big of a difference. I’ve had a wide range of resident’s in my homes with Alzheimer’s. From PhD college professors, to engineers, to construction workers. I wonder if this is more of a result of people with more education taking care of themselves better.

To me the 14 risk factors can be boiled down into three categories:

1. Good Nutrition

2. Exercise

3. Happiness and social interaction

Taking care of yourself is the best medicine for any health problems.