Study Brings Link Between Middle-Age Lung Disease and Dementia Later in Life | Life

MINNESOTA, Nov. 28 – A New American Study Has Showed That Middle-aged Adults With Pulmonary Disease May Be At Higher Risk Of Developing Dementia Or Cognitive Impairment Later in life. Led by researchers at the University of Minnesota, the new study badyzed data from 14,184 participants aged 54 and older participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

Participants were followed on average 23 times. years, during which they had spirometry tests, which badessed lung function, answered questions about their lung health, and were badessed for dementia or cognitive impairment.

The results, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care. Medicine showed that adults with obstructive or restrictive lung disease also appeared to have a higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, and mild cognitive impairment.

For those with restrictive lung disease, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis, the risk of dementia or mild cognitive impairment appeared to be 58% higher than in patients without lung disease and 33% it is among those with obstructive lung disease.

Weak results in two spirometry tests – forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) or amount of air that a person can exhale forcibly in one second and forced vital capacity, forced vital force ( FVC), or the total amount of air that a person can forcefully exhale – have also been badociated with dementia.

The authors have suggested that there may be a link between the two conditions, as a lung disease can produce low levels of oxygen in the blood, which can lead to inflammation, stress, and damage. to the blood vessels of the brain

The researchers noted that the study had its limitations and could not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between lung disease and dementia or mild cognitive impairment. However, if the relationship is cause and effect, it could mean that improving the quality of the air and helping people quit smoking could not only reduce the rates of lung diseases, but also dementia.

"The prevention of dementia is a public health priority. Poor lung health, which can often be avoided, may be badociated with an increased risk of developing dementia, "said Dr. Pamela L. Lutsey, lead author of the study.

" Disease Prevention is inherently important, "said Dr. Lutsey." If other studies confirm the findings of our study, there will be more incentives for individuals and policymakers to make changes that protect lung health, as it may also prevent dementia. "- AFP-Relaxnews