Introduction
If you are concerned about your risk of developing dementia, then you should pay attention to what you eat. Recent research has shown that certain foods can increase your risk of developing dementia, while others can help protect your brain health. In this article, we will discuss which foods you should avoid and which ones you should include in your diet to reduce your risk of dementia. We will also provide some tips on how to make healthier food choices. By following these guidelines, you can help protect your brain health and reduce your risk of developing dementia.
If You Have This in Your Blood You Are at Risk of Dementia — Eat This Not That
If you have high levels of homocysteine in your blood, you may be at an increased risk of developing dementia. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is produced naturally in the body, but when levels become too high, it can lead to a number of health problems, including dementia. Fortunately, there are some dietary changes you can make to help reduce your risk.
What Is Homocysteine?
Homocysteine is an amino acid that is produced naturally in the body. It is a byproduct of the metabolism of the essential amino acid methionine. High levels of homocysteine in the blood can be caused by a number of factors, including a lack of certain vitamins and minerals, such as folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. It can also be caused by certain genetic conditions.
How Does Homocysteine Increase the Risk of Dementia?
High levels of homocysteine in the blood can damage the walls of the blood vessels, leading to an increased risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. It can also damage the brain, leading to an increased risk of dementia. Studies have shown that people with high levels of homocysteine in their blood are more likely to develop dementia than those with normal levels.
What Can You Do to Reduce Your Risk?
The good news is that there are some dietary changes you can make to help reduce your risk of developing dementia. Eating foods that are rich in folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 can help reduce homocysteine levels in the blood. Foods such as leafy green vegetables, legumes, nuts, and fortified cereals are all good sources of these vitamins and minerals. Additionally, eating foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and walnuts, can also help reduce homocysteine levels.
Conclusion
High levels of homocysteine in the blood can increase the risk of developing dementia. Fortunately, there are some dietary changes you can make to help reduce your risk. Eating foods that are rich in folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, as well as foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, can help reduce homocysteine levels in the blood and reduce your risk of developing dementia.
The progressive brain disorder known as dementia remains one of the most mysterious disorders—researchers aren’t sure why some people get it, how to prevent it, or how to cure it. But in recent years, science has uncovered some intriguing clues, including some red flags in the blood that may indicate an increased risk of dementia. Several are within your power to change. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
In September, Japanese researchers published findings that 33 metabolic compounds in the blood are different in people with dementia than in older people with normal cognition. These compounds may lead to brain impairment, and they might help isolate a cause of dementia or enable better diagnostic testing.
In a study published this fall in the journal PLOS Biology, Australian researchers said they may have identified a potential cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The animal study found that excessive toxic fat-protein complexes in the blood can damage small blood vessels in the brain and leak into the organ itself, causing inflammation and killing brain cells. Making dietary changes or taking medications could reduce the amount of these toxins in the blood, potentially reducing Alzheimer’s risk or slowing the disease’s progression, the study’s lead author said.
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According to a 2014 study published in Neurology, people with blood type AB are 82 percent more likely to develop thinking and memory problems that can lead to dementia than people with other blood types. The potential culprit: Factor VII, a protein that helps blood to clot. People with AB blood have a higher average level of factor VII than people with other blood types, and high levels of factor VII are associated with a higher risk of dementia.
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In a study published last summer in Lancet Healthy Longevity, researchers found that high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol may increase your risk of developing dementia later in life. Looking at health data from more than 1.8 million people over 40 who were followed for up to 23 years, scientists found that having a high LDL cholesterol level in middle age was associated with an increased risk of dementia more than a decade later.
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Several studies have associated uncontrolled diabetes with an increased risk of dementia. One of the latest: A study published last June in the journal Neurology, which found that older people who have visited the hospital for high and low blood sugar events had six times the risk of developing dementia than people who had experienced neither. People who suffered only low blood sugar events had a 75% higher risk of dementia than people without the condition, and people with only high blood sugar events had more than twice the risk. “Our findings suggest that exposure to severe glycemic events may have long-term consequences on brain health and should be considered additional motivation for people with diabetes to avoid severe glycemic events throughout their lifetime,” the study’s lead author said. And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don’t miss these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.