November 20, 2024
Even seemingly minor health problems can raise your risk of developing dementia, according to a new report. The study found that older adults who develop multiple age-related health problems or physical limitations tend to become increasingly frail, setting the stage for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The good news is that tending to these health problems may help to stave off dementia onset, the researchers say.
“The accumulation of age-related conditions is indicative of increasing frailty, which we found accelerates up to nine years prior to a dementia diagnosis,” said study author Dr. David Ward, of the University of Queensland in Australia. “Our findings show with every four to five additional health problems there is on average a 40 percent higher risk of developing dementia, while for people who are fitter the risk is lower.” The findings, he said, suggest “frailty is not merely a consequence of undetected dementia but contributes to its onset.”
Among the age-related health problems that may contribute to frailty and raise dementia risk are serious problems like cancer or chronic pain, as well as conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, depression, or vision problems.
For the study, Dr. Ward and his colleagues followed nearly 30,000 men and women aged 60 and older who were part of four long-running studies in the United States and the United Kingdom. They tracked their health over several decades, from 1997 to 2024. All were cognitively healthy when the studies began. But by the end of the study period, 3,154 had developed Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
The researchers found that the more health problems or physical limitations someone developed, the greater their likelihood of developing dementia.
“People age at different rates, and the number of health problems that accumulate is captured by their degree of frailty,” Dr Ward said. “By understanding the connection between aging, frailty and dementia, we can use targeted intervention strategies to reduce risk and improve quality of life.”
“This finding supports integrating frailty screening into routine check-ups,” Dr. Ward continued.
Early signs of frailty, experts say, include shrinking in size or losing 10 or more pounds unintentionally in a year; feeling weak or having trouble standing without assistance; reduced grip strength; feeling exhausted or unable to “get going” three or more days most weeks; unable to complete household chores or pursue activities you used to enjoy; or walking slowly (taking more than six or seven seconds to walk 15 feet). If you are showing any of these signs of increasing frailty, talk to your doctor.
Fortunately, experts say that as we grow older, we can help stave off frailty by focusing on the “four pillars” of frailty prevention and management. These are:
- Eat a healthy diet, with a focus on protein intake. A Mediterranean-style diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and heart-healthy fats like olive oil has been linked to a lower risk of frailty as well as dementia. In addition, as we get older, our protein requirements increase. Getting adequate levels of protein is essential for helping to maintain muscle mass and strength. Women should get at least 46 grams of protein a day, and men should get at least 56 grams. Healthy sources of protein include lean meat, fish and poultry (about 21 grams in 3 ounces), cooked beans (about 16 grams in a cup) and yogurt (10 to 20 grams per 8 ounces).
- Exercise. All forms of exercise are good, but in terms of preventing frailty, strength-based exercises are the most beneficial. Walk or get some aerobic activity most days, and add weights and light strength-training exercises to your daily routine.
- Check your medications. Medications can help to keep blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol in check. But they also have side effects that can contribute to weakness or falls. Work with your doctor to make sure you’re getting the right medications, and not taking any medicines you may no longer need.
- Maintain strong social ties. Having a strong social network provides emotional support and is vital to keeping the brain, and body, in optimal working order. Studies have shown, for example, that older adults who volunteer as tutors in elementary schools stay more cognitively and physically fit.
By ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer’s Information Site. Reviewed by Eric Schmidt, Ph.D. Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University.
Source: David D. Ward, Jonny P. Flint, Thomas J. Littlejohns, et al: “Frailty Trajectories Preceding Dementia in the US and UK.” JAMA Neurology, November 11, 2024.
