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The common conditions that ‘significantly increase your risk of dementia' – and the most dangerous ages to be diagnosed
The common conditions that ‘significantly increase your risk of dementia' – and the most dangerous ages to be diagnosed

The Sun

time3 days ago

  • Health
  • The Sun

The common conditions that ‘significantly increase your risk of dementia' – and the most dangerous ages to be diagnosed

WHY do some people develop dementia, while others don't? It's a question that's baffled scientists for decades. 2 Some blame booze or obesity, others say it's in your DNA. While there's still no single answer, experts agree it's often triggered by a mix of factors - and one new study reveals that when you get ill could matter just as much as what you get. Getting heart conditions such as heart disease and atrial fibrillation, as well as diabetes, before age 55 could raise your risk of dementia later in life, researchers found. And developing strokes, anxiety or depression between 55 and 70 may double the danger. Experts at the University of Oxford said up to 80 per cent of people with dementia also have two or more other long-term illnesses. But there is still 'a lack of understanding' about how the timing and type of these illnesses affect dementia risk. They identified "critical time windows" in which certain illnesses pose the greatest risk to patients. For the study, published in Brain Communications, experts analysed data from 282,712 people in the UK Biobank and looked at patterns for 46 chronic health problems. Heart issues like atrial fibrillation and diabetes before 55 were most strongly linked to dementia. But from 55 to 70, conditions such as stroke and mental health disorders posed the biggest danger. Five simple tests that could indicate dementia 'Although we knew that multimorbidity increased the risk of dementia, it was unclear which combinations of health conditions had the most impact and in what sequence," Sana Suri, associate professor and senior fellow at Oxford Brain Sciences, said. 'This study has identified how specific illnesses tend to co-exist with each other, and also the critical time windows in which they could pose the greatest risk.' The findings suggest people who get heart disease or diabetes in middle age, followed by mental health issues or stroke later on, are at greatest risk. Sana said these other illnesses should be taken into account when working out someone's likelihood of developing dementia. 'This study identified associations between multimorbidity and dementia risk but we need to understand more about why this happens," she said 'We also need to try to replicate the study in more diverse groups of people to ensure the results are representative of the population." She added: 'Future studies could examine whether efforts to manage or prevent cardiovascular problems in early-to-midlife, followed by mental health and neurological disorders when people are in their fifties and sixties, might reduce the risk of dementia.' 2 A separate study, published earlier this week, suggested two common infections may also play a role in the development of dementia. Researchers from Pennsylvania found both chlamydia pneumoniae and SARS-CoV-2 increase the levels of substances in the brain called cytokines. These trigger inflammation, which can "harm brain cells and may help speed up the buildup of harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer's", the most common form of dementia. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a "very common" type of bacteria that causes lung infections, including pneumonia. It is not the same as the STI chlamydia, though both are highly infectious. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes Covid-19. There are things you can do to reduce your own risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's. No single behaviour is guaranteed to prevent dementia - but there's lots of evidence to suggest that making tweaks to your lifestyle choices could affect your risk. Dementia risk is lowest in people who have healthy behaviours in mid-life - from the age of 40 to 65 - according to the Alzheimer's Society. Here are a few easy changes you can make: Exercise regularly to boost your heart health and circulation and help maintain a healthy weight. Drink less alcohol - try to have no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, about one pint of beer or a small glass of wine each day. If you regularly drink much more than this, you are increasing your risk of damage to your brain and other organs, and so increasing your risk of dementia. Don't smoke - it does a lot of harm to the circulation of blood around the body, particularly the blood vessels in the brain, as well as the heart and lungs. Engaging in social activities to help to build up your brain's ability to relieve stress and improve your mood - depression and social isolation have both been linked to dementia. Manage health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, which can increase the risk of getting dementia. Protect your eyesight and hearing - vision loss increases a person's risk of developing dementia. The same goes for hearing loss, which can also be an early symptom of dementia. Wear a helmet - as traumatic brain injuries can start a process in the brain where the substances that cause Alzheimer's disease build up around the injured area.

Mediterranean and 3 other diet types may lower dementia risk, especially in women
Mediterranean and 3 other diet types may lower dementia risk, especially in women

Medical News Today

time4 days ago

  • Health
  • Medical News Today

Mediterranean and 3 other diet types may lower dementia risk, especially in women

Many factors can affect a person's risk of developing dementia later in has shown that diet is one factor that might influence dementia risk. One study suggests that following certain diets, like the Mediterranean diet, could decrease dementia risk, while pro-inflammatory diets may increase risk. Can what people eat affect their dementia risk? A new study suggests that this may likely be the explored in depth how certain dietary habits are related to dementia risk. Using data from the UK Biobank, the results confirm the benefits of dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet and suggest that inflammatory diets may increase someone's chances of developing results also indicate that the impact of diet on dementia risk may be more significant for women and older adults. The study was published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and diets affect dementia riskThis study examined diet and dementia risk while also considering the impact on people with certain characteristics, such as obesity or older age. Researchers evaluated participants' diets based on several scoring indices. One looked at adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and another at adherence to the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet. The MIND diet combines the DASH and Mediterranean diets and focuses on components like nuts, leafy vegetables, and berries. Next was the Recommended Food Score, which helps evaluate diet quality based on how much people eat certain foods like lean meat, low-fat dairy, fruits, and vegetables. There was also the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010, which looks at how well someone is following American Dietary Guidelines. Finally, researchers also used the Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII) to look at how inflammatory diets were. This index considered components like some vitamins and minerals and components like alcohol and fat intake. Researchers then divided dietary index scores into four groups. They also considered covariates, including physical activity, smoking, and body mass index. Researchers were able to analyze data from 131,209 participants, who did not all have a baseline dementia diagnosis. They then had exact matching in each of the five dietary categories for sex and age. Exact matching is a strategy used in cohort studies that can help with confounding. At baseline, the average age of participants was age 56. The average follow-up time was 13.5 years, and throughout the follow-up, 1,453 participants developed dementia. Which diets lowered dementia risk the most?Overall, participants with the lowest scores for the Mediterranean diet, the MIND diet, and the Recommended Food Score experienced the 'highest incidence of dementia.' Researchers also observed that those with the lowest inflammatory diet scores and the highest Alternative Healthy Eating Index scores had 'the lowest incidence of dementia after the follow-up period.' However, for these two groups, there were no quartile group differences that reached a significant level. Researchers observed that higher scores for the Mediterranean diet, the MIND diet, the Recommended Food Score, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index were all linked to decreased dementia risk. Following more of an inflammatory diet was linked to an increased dementia risk. They also found that higher scores for the MIND diet, the Recommended Food Score, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index were all linked to a decreased risk for mild cognitive impairment. Time was also an important factor. For example, at the less than five-year follow-up, only the MIND appeared to be associated with a decreased dementia risk. At the five to ten-year follow-up, more closely following the MIND diet, the Recommended Food Score, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index appeared to decrease dementia risk. At the ten-year or more mark, some associations remained significant, such as how greater following of the Mediterranean diet appeared to lower dementia risk by 24%. Does age or sex affect which diet helps?Subgroup analyses looked at sex, age, and obesity. Researchers found that for participants ages 60 and older, more closely following the Mediterranean diet and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index reduced dementia risk, but this wasn't the case for younger participants. The associations with other scoring indexes were still significant regardless of age. For women, closer adherence to all healthy diets and lower inflammatory diet scores all appeared to lower dementia risk. For men, only the Recommended Food Score appeared to significantly decrease dementia risk, and the effects were still better for the Mediterranean diet appeared to help with dementia risk regardless of weight. A greater inflammatory diet score was associated with an increased risk for dementia in participants with obesity. The other healthy dietary patterns besides the Mediterranean diet helped lower dementia risk for participants who did not have obesity. Finally, researchers looked at how these diets impacted people with the ApoEε4 genotype, which can increase risk for Alzheimer's disease. For non-ApoEε4 carriers, higher scores of all healthy diets helped to decrease dementia risk, and higher inflammatory diet scores increased risk. For ApoEε4 carriers, only adherence to the Recommended Food Score appeared to help decrease dementia risk. Amarish Dave, DO, an osteopathic physician specializing in neurology, who was not involved in the study, commented with his thoughts on the findings: 'This study adds hard numbers to what we know intuitively, which is that healthy diets lower your dementia risk, and inflammatory foods raise it. It confirms that healthy eating patterns matter when it comes to reducing dementia risk. The size and quality of the data make these results hard to ignore.'What the study may be missingThis study adds information regarding potential dietary interventions related to dementia. There are limitations, such as the study was only in participants in the U.K., and some information comes from participant reporting. There may be restrictions on generalizability to other groups, and future research can have more diversity. Any general limitations of the UK Biobank also apply to this study. Researchers note that the self-reporting of food intake increases the risk of recall bias; people can make mistakes such as incorrectly estimating portions and nutrients. They also note the possibility of an underestimation of the association between diet and risk for dementia. Participants were between ages 40 and 69 at baseline, and researchers only did follow-up for a certain timeframe. Researchers suggest that using other follow-up periods and working with diverse age groups could be helpful, as this could reveal variation. Diet information was collected in a narrow window, and researchers did not take into account how participants' diets could have changed during the follow-up. The researchers suggest that examining dietary changes could be helpful in truly looking at the potential long-term impact of diet on people's chances of developing dementia. Some dietary data was lacking. For example, researchers note that they lacked information on how much olive oil participants were consuming, so they weren't able to include this in the scoring when considering the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is a major component of the Mediterranean diet. Researchers also lacked data from the original Dietary Inflammatory Index, so they only included some elements of this index. The researchers acknowledge that the use of exact matching in this study was also limiting. They explain that 'the estimated effect can only be generalized to a small population and lacks precision.' Finally, there is the risk for residual confounding, which researchers acknowledge could impact 'dietary choices and dementia risk.' Inflammatory diets may raise dementia riskThis study highlights the diet's important role in possibly protecting against dementia. Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, who was also not involved in the study, noted the following clinical implications of the research: 'This study speaks to the importance of long-term adherence to diet and the benefits of this. It also demonstrates how diet may play a greater role for older women than for other groups. Also of interest, the study confirms prior findings that pro-inflammatory diets (high in saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates) can be a risk factor for dementia.'The results also suggest the need for doctors to keep discussing diets with their clients. As noted by Dave: 'Doctors should be talking to patients about brain-healthy diets just like we talk about heart health. Eating less processed food and more whole, anti-inflammatory foods could be a powerful tool to prevent cognitive decline. These results show that food should be part of the prescription.'

Your risk of developing an incurable blinding condition goes up 700% if you prefer this kind of coffee
Your risk of developing an incurable blinding condition goes up 700% if you prefer this kind of coffee

New York Post

time08-07-2025

  • Health
  • New York Post

Your risk of developing an incurable blinding condition goes up 700% if you prefer this kind of coffee

Blinded by the brew? Whether you're a latte lover, a mocha monster or an espresso elitist — people have strong preferences when it comes to coffee. But what if we told you your choice of java wasn't simply a matter of taste? 3 A recent study suggests your choice of java is much more than a matter of taste. brizmaker – An eye-opening study — published recently in the journal Food Science & Nutrition — found that drinking instant coffee may dramatically increase your risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness. Researchers analyzed data from over 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank and discovered that instant coffee drinkers with a certain genetic predisposition were 700% more likely to develop dry AMD, the more common — and currently incurable — form of the disease. 'This genetic overlap suggests that there may be shared biological pathways or metabolic mechanisms connecting the preference for instant coffee with the risk of developing dry AMD,' Dr. Siwei Liu, a researcher in the Department of Ophthalmology for Shiyan Taihe Hospital at Hubei University of Medicine in China, told Medical News Today. 'It provides new insight into AMD pathogenesis and offers a potential direction for personalized prevention strategies, such as gene-informed lifestyle interventions.' 3 Researchers found that drinking instant coffee may dramatically increase your risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness. Vitalii – Dry AMD affects the macula, a small region in the back of the retina responsible for central vision. As the damage progresses, people may experience blurry spots, difficulty reading and, eventually, a permanent loss of vision. While risk factors like age and genetics are beyond our control, lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise and smoking play a role. Researchers are now adding coffee preference to the list. 3 'Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide and is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants that may offer neuroprotective effects,' one researcher said. Getty Images/iStockphoto Liu noted that AMD is a leading cause of vision loss among older people in industrialized nations, which is why recognizing and managing lifestyle factors is important for slowing disease progression, preserving vision and improving quality of life. The findings suggest that, when it comes to eyesight, all coffee is certainly not created equal. 'Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide and is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants that may offer neuroprotective effects,' Liu told Medical News Today. 'At the same time, growing evidence shows that genetics influence dietary preferences. Studying the genetic predisposition to coffee consumption and its relationship with AMD risk may help reveal potential causal links between diet and eye diseases.' Liu's team plans to validate these findings in other populations, dig deeper into the metabolic pathways and figure out whether instant coffee is directly affecting the mechanisms behind AMD. 'We also aim to perform longitudinal cohort analyses to clarify the causal relationship between coffee intake and AMD progression,' she said.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurates 'National Biobank' and India's own Longitudinal population data study at CSIR-IGIB
Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurates 'National Biobank' and India's own Longitudinal population data study at CSIR-IGIB

Time of India

time07-07-2025

  • Health
  • Time of India

Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurates 'National Biobank' and India's own Longitudinal population data study at CSIR-IGIB

New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Vice President of CSIR, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated the state-of-the-art Phenome India " National Biobank " at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in the national capital today. The newly launched facility marks a significant stride towards building India's own longitudinal health database and enabling personalised treatment regimens in future, said the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Biobank will serve as the backbone of a nationwide cohort study, collecting comprehensive genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 individuals across India. Drawing inspiration from the UK Biobank model, the Indian version is tailored to capture the country's unique diversity across geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds. Researchers believe the initiative will aid early diagnosis, improve therapeutic targeting, and bolster the fight against complex diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular ailments, and rare genetic disorders, the Ministry added. "Today, we hold the promise of a future where every Indian may receive individualised treatment tailored to their genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment," Dr. Jitendra Singh said while addressing the scientists and researchers at IGIB. "This transition to personalised healthcare is no longer theoretical--it is becoming reality, driven by indigenous innovations." Reflecting on the unique health challenges faced by Indians, Dr. Jitendra Singh noted the high prevalence of central obesity, a risk factor often underestimated. He highlighted past research showing that seemingly lean Indians may carry disproportionate fat around their waist, underlining the need for population-specific health strategies. "Our conditions are complex and deeply heterogeneous. This is where the Biobank becomes vital--it allows us to decode that complexity," he said. The Minister emphasised that India's scientific landscape is evolving rapidly, citing recent advances in quantum technology, CRISPR-based genome editing, and the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). "India is no longer lagging behind--we are among the early adopters, sometimes even ahead," he said. The Biobank, he added, will complement these efforts by generating the kind of high-resolution data that can power AI-driven diagnostics and gene-guided therapies. Dr. Jitendra Singh also called for deeper collaboration between research institutions, government departments like the Department of Biotechnology, and industry partners, particularly in areas such as AMR and drug development. "Research must extend beyond the lab--it must find takers in the market and beneficiaries in society," he noted. The Phenome India Project , under which the Biobank has been launched, is designed to be a long-term, data-rich study tracking the health trajectories of individuals over several years. It will help scientists uncover disease patterns, gene-environment interactions, and response to therapies--all within the Indian context. Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, commended the launch of the Biobank as a bold step toward India's self-reliance in healthcare data. Describing the initiative as a "baby step" with the potential to evolve into a global benchmark, she noted that the diversity and depth of the Indian cohort data could one day rival or even surpass global counterparts like the UK Biobank. Dr. Kalaiselvi highlighted CSIR's holistic efforts in areas like sickle cell anaemia through indigenous CRISPR-based therapies, affordable diagnostics, and collaborative interventions with tribal communities, while urging IGIB scientists to continue setting national examples in data-driven, people-centric research. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Souvik Maiti, Director of CSIR-IGIB , reflected on the institute's pioneering role in genomics over the past two decades. "We were the first institute in India to begin decoding the human genome at a time when sequencing tools were practically non-existent," he said. Highlighting achievements such as the development of over 300 genetic diagnostics for rare disorders, extensive work on COVID-19 genome sequencing, and the launch of India's first drug genome project, he emphasised IGIB's mission of using global technologies to solve local health challenges. Dr. Maiti also pointed to ongoing work on women-centric studies, breast cancer genomics, and the development of indigenous CRISPR-based therapies for sickle cell disease, adding that IGIB's research now extends to domains like space biology and AI-based pilot fitness assessments in collaboration with the Indian Air Force. (ANI)

Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurates 'National Biobank' and India's own Longitudinal population data study at CSIR-IGIB
Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurates 'National Biobank' and India's own Longitudinal population data study at CSIR-IGIB

India Gazette

time06-07-2025

  • Health
  • India Gazette

Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurates 'National Biobank' and India's own Longitudinal population data study at CSIR-IGIB

New Delhi [India], July 6 (ANI): Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Vice President of CSIR, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated the state-of-the-art Phenome India 'National Biobank' at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in the national capital today. The newly launched facility marks a significant stride towards building India's own longitudinal health database and enabling personalised treatment regimens in future, said the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Biobank will serve as the backbone of a nationwide cohort study, collecting comprehensive genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10,000 individuals across India. Drawing inspiration from the UK Biobank model, the Indian version is tailored to capture the country's unique diversity across geography, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds. Researchers believe the initiative will aid early diagnosis, improve therapeutic targeting, and bolster the fight against complex diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular ailments, and rare genetic disorders, the Ministry added. 'Today, we hold the promise of a future where every Indian may receive individualised treatment tailored to their genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment,' Dr. Jitendra Singh said while addressing the scientists and researchers at IGIB. 'This transition to personalised healthcare is no longer theoretical--it is becoming reality, driven by indigenous innovations.' Reflecting on the unique health challenges faced by Indians, Dr. Jitendra Singh noted the high prevalence of central obesity, a risk factor often underestimated. He highlighted past research showing that seemingly lean Indians may carry disproportionate fat around their waist, underlining the need for population-specific health strategies. 'Our conditions are complex and deeply heterogeneous. This is where the Biobank becomes vital--it allows us to decode that complexity,' he said. The Minister emphasised that India's scientific landscape is evolving rapidly, citing recent advances in quantum technology, CRISPR-based genome editing, and the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 'India is no longer lagging behind--we are among the early adopters, sometimes even ahead,' he said. The Biobank, he added, will complement these efforts by generating the kind of high-resolution data that can power AI-driven diagnostics and gene-guided therapies. Dr. Jitendra Singh also called for deeper collaboration between research institutions, government departments like the Department of Biotechnology, and industry partners, particularly in areas such as AMR and drug development. 'Research must extend beyond the lab--it must find takers in the market and beneficiaries in society,' he noted. The Phenome India Project, under which the Biobank has been launched, is designed to be a long-term, data-rich study tracking the health trajectories of individuals over several years. It will help scientists uncover disease patterns, gene-environment interactions, and response to therapies--all within the Indian context. Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, commended the launch of the Biobank as a bold step toward India's self-reliance in healthcare data. Describing the initiative as a 'baby step' with the potential to evolve into a global benchmark, she noted that the diversity and depth of the Indian cohort data could one day rival or even surpass global counterparts like the UK Biobank. Dr. Kalaiselvi highlighted CSIR's holistic efforts in areas like sickle cell anaemia through indigenous CRISPR-based therapies, affordable diagnostics, and collaborative interventions with tribal communities, while urging IGIB scientists to continue setting national examples in data-driven, people-centric research. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Souvik Maiti, Director of CSIR-IGIB, reflected on the institute's pioneering role in genomics over the past two decades. 'We were the first institute in India to begin decoding the human genome at a time when sequencing tools were practically non-existent,' he said. Highlighting achievements such as the development of over 300 genetic diagnostics for rare disorders, extensive work on COVID-19 genome sequencing, and the launch of India's first drug genome project, he emphasised IGIB's mission of using global technologies to solve local health challenges. Dr. Maiti also pointed to ongoing work on women-centric studies, breast cancer genomics, and the development of indigenous CRISPR-based therapies for sickle cell disease, adding that IGIB's research now extends to domains like space biology and AI-based pilot fitness assessments in collaboration with the Indian Air Force. (ANI)

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