Health problems, personality raise Alzheimer’s risk, studies show
Reported July 30, 2008
Developing Alzheimer’s disease may be more likely for people whose medical condition puts them at risk for heart disease, and in those with a tendency to brush off conflict, studies show.
Researchers are scouring medical databases and decades-long observational studies to pinpoint factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s, the mind-robbing disease that is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. While treatments ease symptoms for six months to a year, there is no way to slow or stop the malady once it starts to cripple the mind.
People with a constellation of health problems called the metabolic syndrome, essentially high blood pressure, unbalanced cholesterol levels, elevated blood sugar and belly fat, were 35 percent more likely to have mental deficits than those without the condition, a study found. A separate report showed people who easily brush off conflict at work and home were more prone to Alzheimer’s than those who ruminate about their troubles.
“We may not be able to do anything about aging, genetics or family history, but research shows us that there are lifestyle decisions we all can make to keep our brains healthier as we age,” said William Thies, vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association.
Both studies were presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Chicago.
In the metabolic syndrome study, researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul State in Brazil evaluated 422 elderly men and women for mental function, depression and physical function. More than one-third had metabolic syndrome, and they were the most likely to show signs of mental deterioration, the researchers said.
“The results from this study reinforce the importance of maintaining good physical health in order to reduce one’s risk of experiencing cognitive decline, and possibly developing Alzheimer’s disease,” said lead researcher Matheus Roriz-Cruz.
The second study tracked 1,890 participants in a study of heart disease among male civil servants in Israel for 30 years. At the start of the trial, the volunteers were asked if they repetitively thought about their problems at home or work, or if they tended to forget the conflicts. Rates of dementia were 21 percent to 24 percent for those who always forgot, compared with 14 percent to 15 percent of those who tended to ruminate.