University College. UK: People with mild cognitive impairment are at higher risk of developing dementia
if they have diabetes or psychiatric symptoms such as depression, finds a new
review led by UCL researchers.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a state between normal ageing and
dementia, where someone’s mind is functioning less well than would be expected
for their age. It affects 19% of people aged 65 and over, and around 46% of
people with MCI develop dementia within 3 years compared with 3% of the general
population.
The latest review paper, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, analysed
data from 62 separate studies, following a total of 15,950 people diagnosed
with MCI. The study found that among people with MCI, those with diabetes were
65% more likely to progress to dementia and those with psychiatric symptoms
were more than twice as likely to develop the condition.
“There are strong links between mental and physical health, so keeping
your body healthy can also help to keep your brain working properly,” explains
lead author Dr Claudia Cooper (UCL Psychiatry). “Lifestyle changes to improve
diet and mood might help people with MCI to avoid dementia, and bring many
other health benefits. This doesn't necessarily mean that addressing diabetes, psychiatric
symptoms and diet will reduce an individual’s risk, but our review provides the
best evidence to date about what might help.”
The Alzheimer’s Society charity recommends that people stay socially and physically active to help prevent dementia. Their guidelines also suggest eating a diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in meat and saturated fats, such as the Mediterranean diet.
“Some damage is already done in those with MCI but these results give a
good idea about what it makes sense to target to reduce the chance of dementia,”
says senior author Professor Gill Livingston (UCL Psychiatry). “Randomised controlled
trials are now needed.”
Professor Alan Thompson, Dean of the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, says:
“This impressive Systematic Review and meta-analysis from The Faculty of Brain
Science’s Division of Psychiatry underlines two important messages. Firstly,
the impact of medical and psychiatric co-morbidities in individuals with mild
cognitive impairment and secondly, the importance and therapeutic potential of
early intervention in the prevention of dementia. Confirming these findings and
incorporating appropriate preventative strategies could play an important part
in lessening the ever-increasing societal burden of dementia in our ageing
population.”
- See more at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0215/200215-diabetes-depression-dementia-link#sthash.1LLlXhzW.dpuf