Risk of Dementia is Increased by Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome has been a worldwide problem for years, it is a multisystemic disease that includes high weight, high blood pressure, high fasting glucose, and is related with an insulin resistance and high risk to develop other conditions like Cardiovascular Disease.

One of the possible causes of Dementia, mainly in the 70 year old population, is Cardiovascular disease, but in the last few years it has been seen people of 60 years old and younger present dementia symptoms, especially if they have obesity.

Which components does Metabolic Syndrome comprise?

There are five principal components in this condition: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and high fasting glucose. Just with three of these five criteria you have a Metabolic Syndrome diagnosis.

A team of European researchers reported that the follow-up of the Whitehall II cohort study, a study of more than 10,000 civil servants in London that was established in the late 1980s, also found that cardiovascular disease (CVD) may only partially contribute to the risk of dementia in study participants.

They found that each additional metabolic syndrome component before age 60 years was linked to a 13% rise in the risk of dementia. However, in people aged 70 years and older, the relationship wasn’t statistically significant.

As we see with the presence of just one metabolic syndrome component and the presence of metabolic risk before age 60, but not after, is associated with higher risk of dementia.

Do Cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome have to be present at the same time to develop dementia?

Not precisely, in another cohort study that was made in London consisted of 10,380 civilians between 35-55 years old. Every year after starting the study for 4-5 years, they answered a questionnaire and had a clinical examination. They found an elevated risk of dementia just having one component of the Metabolic syndrome, even if they didn’t have cardiovascular disease.

That’s why it is so important to have a balanced diet and physical activity to avoid the development of metabolic syndrome. And if you have this syndrome, it is important to get a physician consultation to help you , and live a long life as best as possible.

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Source:

Richard Mark Kirkner, (July 27, 2022). Metabolic Syndrome Raises Dementia Risk in Under 60s.Medscape. Retrieved from: https://www.mdedge.com/endocrinology/article/256528/lipid-disorders/metabolic-syndrome-raises-dementia-risk-under-60s

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