People with low bone density – a condition popularly known as osteoporosis – are at a 42% higher risk of developing dementia, compared to individuals with healthy bones. This is what shows a study published this Wednesday (22/3) in Neurology magazinefrom the American Academy of Neurology.
Previous research has shown that factors such as diet and exercise can affect bone health in different ways, as well as a person’s risk of developing dementia. The new study by scientists at the Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands has found a link between bone loss and the recurrence of cognitive impairments.
“It is possible that bone loss occurs in the early stages of dementia, years before any symptoms manifest. If this is the case, bone loss could be a risk indicator and patients could be targeted for screening and better care”, suggests the study’s author, physician Mohammad Arfan Ikram, from the Erasmus University Medical Center, in the Netherlands.
The study involved 3,651 people with an average age of 72. For more than a decade, volunteers have had bone density X-rays, physical tests, bone scans and tests for dementia.
Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia are neurodegenerative diseases that mainly affect the elderly population. The conditions are progressive and, over time, the patient becomes more dependent on the care of others.Getty Images
*** Seniors and computerIt is common that, in the initial stage, the symptoms are confused with the natural aging process. However, family members and close people should be aware of the signs Getty Images
*** doctorsIt is also important to seek help from doctors, as the earlier the diagnosis, the greater the chances of controlling the case and delaying the progression of the disease, as well as increasing the quality of life of patients.Disclosure
***elderly-g73b917f75_640Parkinson’s causes the death of neurons that produce dopamine and play an important role in the locomotor system. Men are the most affectedPixabay
***man-g7d8f2f940_640The patient’s family members should be aware of the first signs of slowness, muscle stiffness and frequent tremors, which are more characteristic of this condition.Pixabay
***woman-gd073167b3_640Alzheimer’s, in turn, affects the female population more. It causes the degeneration and death of neurons, which results in progressive alteration of brain functions.Pixabay
***question-gd12ddc75a_640The most recurrent consequences are the impairment of memory, behavior, thinking and learning capacity.Pixabay
***patient-ge7e79da2d_640Dementia is progressive and the initial symptoms are well known: memory loss and confusion are the most common. The condition affects up to 25% of people over 85 in BrazilPixabay
***hands-gda2519f21_640Speech problems and difficulty making decisions are also among the signs. However, there are other subtle signs that can alert to the development of some types of degenerative diseases. Pixabay
***eye-g91c3cc572_640Vision problems: A UK study by UK Biobank shows that people with age-related macular degeneration are 25% more likely to have dementiaPixabay
***elderly-agencia-brazilHearing loss: may be linked to cellular changes in the brain. But vision and hearing loss can lead to social isolation, which has been known for years as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.Brazil Agency
***elderly-couple-g5e4cbfe5e_640Mood swings: People with early dementia stop finding jokes funny or don’t understand situations they used to find amusing, and may have trouble understanding sarcasm Pixabay
***281948-see-x-important-care-with-the-elderly-oral-health-768×512Gum problems: Research shows that oral health is linked to mental health issues and may also be linked to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and alcoholism — all of which are also risk factors for dementiareproduction
***man-g2ef0736cd_640Social isolation: the symptom may increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. A lack of patience with friends and family and a preference for being alone could be signs of brain chemical problems or a lack of vitamins.Pixabay
***ball-g8627c1d0f_640Other signs that may indicate neurodegenerative diseases are: lack of interest in usual activities, difficulty performing day-to-day tasks, repeating conversations or tasks, disorientation in known places and difficulty memorizingPixabay
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When the experiment began, none of the participants had dementia, but 19% of them (688 people) developed the syndrome over an average period of 11 years. Of the 1,211 participants with the lowest total body bone density, 90 developed cognitive impairments within ten years. Among the 1,211 people with the highest bone density, 52 ended the study with a diagnosis of dementia.
After adjusting for the volunteers’ profile factors, such as age, gender and family history of dementia, the researchers found that people with the lowest bone density were 42% more likely to develop the condition than individuals in the group with the healthiest bones. .
The study authors point out that the results only show an association between the two conditions. They do not prove that low bone density causes dementia. “More studies are needed to understand the connection between bone density and memory loss,” says Ikram.
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