(06-12-12) Know Your Risk Factors For Dementia!

Healthy Answers Research Team
Researchers have found that managing and treating vascular disease risk factors, not only can help prevent heart disease and stroke but also common forms of dementia. Currently, it is predicted that by the year 2050 11-16 million Americans will suffer from some form of dementia. Researchers at the Nantz National Alzheimer Center at the Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston have identified the top risk factors for developing dementia:
1. Hypertension: Controlling blood pressure is important to decreasing risk of heart disease and stroke. Recent studies also show that people with high blood pressure and mild cognitive impairment will likely have dementia later in life.
2. Hyperlipidemia: High cholesterol levels have been implicated in the development of dementia later in life.
3. Smoking: Smoking diminishes oxygen flow throughout the entire body and also blood flow by constricting blood vessels. Diminished blood flow leads to cognitive decline and dementia.
4. Diabetes: Diabetes increases risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke and are 2-3 times more likely to develop Alzheimer?s disease.
5. Diet/exercise: Healthy lifestyles decrease the risk of dementia as people get older.
6. High homocysteine levels: Homocysteine is a protein in the blood. When it is elevated, it increases the likelihood of developing heart disease and stroke. B vitamin deficiency, especially folate, is thought to contribute to high homocysteine levels. Research has shown that larger doses of B-complex can reduce the rate of brain shrinkage in older people and slow progression of dementia.


Source: HealthyAnswers.com

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