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Conditions
Beth WeinhouseNov 09Although we don’t know a lot about the causes of Alzheimer’s disease, having the following conditions may raise your risk or make your symptoms worse
Anemia
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This common blood disorder is defined by a decline in red blood cells. These cells transport oxygen, which is why a common symptom is persistent fatigue. The condition hits more than three million Americans. Some studies have found a connection between anemia and an increased risk of dementia in older adults. One of the most common causes of anemia is an iron deficiency, which can result from a poor diet; it may also be a side effect of certain medications.
The concern is that by depriving the brain of oxygen, anemia could lead to the type of damage seen in people with Alzheimer’s. The results of one 11-year study involving more than 2,500 people ages 70-79 revealed that those with anemia had a 40 percent increased risk of developing dementia than people who didn’t have anemia. Check out the 9 most powerful eating habits to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s.
Depression and anxiety
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“There’s quite a lot of evidence that for people who are destined to develop Alzheimer’s dementia, sometimes the first thing you see is depression or anxiety,” explains Pierre Tariot, MD, director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. However, scientists say that these mood disorders may not be just a symptom of Alzheimer’s—they may actually be risk factors for developing the disease. Because depression and anxiety can elevate levels of the stress hormone cortisol, one theory is that chronically high levels of cortisol can damage the brain.
Interestingly, antidepressant drugs are being researched as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s. “Certain antidepressants have anti-amyloid [a protein badociated with Alzheimer’s] properties with enough credibility that there are two trials of antidepressants that aim to find out if we can derail the Alzheimer’s process with these drugs,” Dr. Tariot says. Make sure you know these 10 early signs of Alzheimer’s.
Diabetes
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The link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s is fairly strong. “Diabetes is probably a risk factor for multiple reasons,” says Dr. Tariot. “Top of the list is that the disease leads to abnormal inflammatory responses in multiple organs—including the brain. Another reason is that the insulin-signaling pathway is also one of the pathways involved in the breakdown of amyloid. Finally, diabetes contributes to cerebrovascular disease [conditions that raise the risk of stroke], which is a significant factor for Alzheimer’s.”
Nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes, and an estimated 54 million more have prediabetes, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. But the disease can be controlled with diet and lifestyle changes, and medication when necessary, to lower the risk. Read about more than 70 easy ways to prevent diabetes.
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