London: According to new research from the University of East Anglia (UK), including cranberries in your diet may help improve memory and lower bad cholesterol.A new study has highlighted the neuroprotective potential of cranberries.The research team studied the benefits of consuming the equivalent of a cup of cranberries a day among 50 to 80-year-olds.They hope that their findings could have implications for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.Lead researcher Dr David Vauzour, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "Dementia is expected to affect around 152 million people by 2050. There is no known cure, so it is crucial that we seek modifiable lifestyle interventions, such as diet, that could help lessen disease risk and burden."Past studies have shown that higher dietary flavonoid intake is associated with slower rates of cognitive decline and dementia. And foods rich in anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, which give berries their red, blue, or purple colour, have been found to improve cognition."Cranberries are rich in these micronutrients and have been recognized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties."We wanted to find out more about how cranberries could help reduce age-related neurodegeneration."The research team investigated the impact of eating cranberries for 12 weeks on brain function and cholesterol among 60 cognitively healthy participants.Half of the participants consumed freeze-dried cranberry powder, equivalent to a cup or 100g of fresh cranberries, daily. The other half consumed a placebo.The study is one of the first to examine cranberries and their long-term impact on cognition and brain health in humans. The results showed that consuming cranberries significantly improved the participants' memory of everyday events (visual episodic memory), neural functioning and delivery of blood to the brain (brain perfusion).Dr Vauzour said: "We found that the participants who consumed the cranberry powder showed significantly improved episodic memory performance in combination with improved circulation of essential nutrients such as oxygen and glucose to important parts of the brain that support cognition -- specifically memory consolidation and retrieval."The cranberry group also exhibited a significant decrease in LDL or 'bad' cholesterol levels, known to contribute to atherosclerosis -- the thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. This supports the idea that cranberries can improve vascular health and may in part contribute to the improvement in brain perfusion and cognition."Demonstrating in humans that cranberry supplementation can improve cognitive performance and identifying some of the mechanisms responsible is an important step for this research field. "The findings of this study are very encouraging, especially considering that a relatively short 12-week cranberry intervention was able to produce significant improvements in memory and neural function," he added."This establishes an important foundation for future research in the area of cranberries and neurological health." The study was supported by a grant from The Cranberry Institute. It was led by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with researchers at the Leiden University Medical Center (Netherlands), the University of Parma (Italy) and the Quadram Institute (UK).&nbsp;—ANI

 According to new research from the University of East Anglia (UK), including cranberries in your diet may help improve memory and lower bad cholesterol.

Cranberries May Help Improve Memory And Fight Dementia, According To A New Study

Washington: According to new research, structural or functional abnormalities in the heart's left atrium, with or without symptoms, may increase a person's risk of acquiring dementia later in life by 35%.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. Dementia risk increased even among those who did not experience atrial fibrillation or stroke, two conditions known to be associated with dementia.
The left atrium is one of four chambers of the heart and is responsible for receiving blood from the lungs and pumping it into the left ventricle, which then pumps the blood to the rest of the body. An abnormality in the structure or functioning of the left atrium, known as atrial cardiopathy, can often serve as a biomarker, or predictor, of a person's cardiac risk. Atrial cardiopathy is associated with an increased risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation, which are both linked to an enhanced risk of dementia. In a study led by Michelle C. Johansen, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of neurology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, the research team aimed to determine the relationship between atrial cardiopathy and dementia, and if so, whether it is independent of atrial fibrillation and stroke.
The study results highlight the need to get a better understanding of the relationship and mechanisms between a state of atrial dysfunction, that may be subclinical (not presenting symptoms) and the newly uncovered association with dementia, the researchers noted.
Participants in the current analysis were part of a larger study group of more than 15,000 people originally recruited for the ongoing Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, which began in 1987 to research heart health in people living within four diverse communities throughout the U.S. ARIC study participants were ages 45-65 years at the start of the study and from rural areas in the U.S. (Forsyth County, North Carolina, and Washington County, Maryland) and urban areas: Minneapolis and Jackson, Mississippi. All ARIC participants attended clinical visits every three years, and the resulting research and data -- including hospital record abstraction, ECG tracings, and physician and coroner questionnaires, as well as death certificate data -- have led to discoveries and guidelines surrounding atherosclerosis, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, stroke and cognitive decline. This analysis uses data and assessments gathered during participants' fifth ARIC clinical visit, between 2011 and 2013 as a baseline, and follows the participants through their sixth visit, between 2016 and 2017, and their seventh visit, between 2018 and 2019.
The current analysis included 5,078 of the 5,952 participants who returned for their fifth clinical visit; 59% were female, and 41% were male. The group of 5,078 were an average age of 75 years old, and 21% self-identified as Black adults. During their fifth, sixth and seventh clinical visit, the ARIC participants were evaluated for cognitive decline indicating dementia.
Researchers evaluated cognitive decline in all participants with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery from the Uniform Data Set of the Alzheimer's Disease Centers program of the National Institute on Aging, as well an informant interview in a subset of participants. Informant interviews are a screening test of questions, such as the Eight-Item Informant Interview to Differentiate Between Aging and Dementia, given to a spouse, adult child or close friend of the adult being evaluated for cognitive decline. The neuropsychological test battery consists of brief measures of processing speed, episodic memory, language, attention and executive function. A diagnosis of dementia was generated based on testing results by a computer diagnostic algorithm and then decided upon by an expert based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the criteria outlined by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institutes of Health.
Hospital discharge codes -- obtained as part of the ARIC study either directly from hospital discharge indices or from an indexing service or from an indexing service -- and death certificate data, obtained as part of the ARIC study from the Automated Classification of Medical Entities system, were also included to assess participants' cognitive status. Additionally, cardiac evaluation, including echocardiography, electrocardiography (EKG/ECG) and blood work, was conducted to assess the size and function of the left atrium of the heart to check for signs of atrial cardiopathy.
The analysis of the collective health data found that throughout the more than 30 years of follow-up, 763 people developed dementia, and 1,709 had atrial cardiopathy. The participants with atrial cardiopathy appeared to be 35% more likely to develop dementia. When the researchers adjusted for participants who experienced atrial fibrillation and stroke, even after accounting for other vascular risks, they still observed a respective 31% and 28% increase in dementia risk in patients with atrial cardiopathy. The researchers suggested that a state of atrial cardiopathy leading to dementia s is not a result of atrial fibrillation or stroke alone.
While the researchers note the results do not imply causality, they emphasize the importance of lowering vascular and heart disease risks. Among the study's limitations was the possibility that asymptomatic atrial fibrillation or silent strokes may have been missed in some study participants. Additionally, dementia develops slowly, therefore, some participants with milder symptoms may have been missed, and some patients in the study may have died before dementia was observed and documented. The study may also not be generalizable among populations with different demographics than the four communities in Forsyth County, North Carolina; Washington County, Maryland; Minneapolis; and Jackson, Mississippi that comprise ARIC.
The study was funded by The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. —ANI

According to new research, structural or functional abnormalities in the heart's left atrium, with or without symptoms, may increase a person's risk of acquiring dementia later in life by 35%.

Risk Of Dementia Might Be Higher If An Upper Heart Chamber Is Abnormal

Minneapolis: Researchers suggested that greater exposure to particulate matter, a specific kind of air pollution linked to traffic, may be associated with an increased risk of dementia. Researchers focused their attention on PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, which is made up of airborne pollutants with a diameter of less than 2.5 millimetres. The risk of dementia was examined in the meta-analysis using all relevant studies.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Neurology.
"As people continue to live longer, conditions like dementia are becoming more common, so detecting and understanding preventable risk factors is key to reducing the increase of this disease," said study author Ehsan Abolhasani, MD, MSc, of Western University in London, Canada. "Since a report by the World Health Organization showed that more than 90 per cent of the world population is living in areas with higher than recommended levels of air pollution, our results provide more evidence for enforcing regulations for air quality and accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energies."
For the meta-analysis, researchers reviewed 17 studies. Participants were over age 40. Across all the studies there were more than 91 million people. Of those, 5.5 million people, or 6 percent, developed dementia.
The studies adjusted for several factors that affect a person's risk of dementia including age, sex, smoking, and education. Researchers compared rates of air pollution exposure for people both with and without dementia and found that people who did not develop dementia had a lower average daily exposure to fine particulate matter air pollutants than people who did have dementia. The U.S. Environmental Pollution Agency (EPA) considers average yearly exposures up to 12 ug/m3 to be safe.
Researchers found that the risk of dementia increased by 3 per cent for every one microgram per cubic meter (ug/m3) increase of fine particulate matter exposure.
"While our meta-analysis does not prove that air pollution causes dementia, it only shows an association, our hope is these findings empower people to take an active role in reducing their exposure to pollution," Abolhasani said. "By understanding the risk of dementia through exposure to air pollution, people can take steps to reduce their exposure such as using sustainable energy, choosing to live in areas with lower levels of pollution and advocating for reduced traffic pollution in residential areas." They also looked at nitrogen oxides, which form smog, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone exposure, but did not find significantly increased risk when these other classes of pollutants were considered alone. —ANI

Researchers suggested that greater exposure to particulate matter, a specific kind of air pollution linked to traffic, may be associated with an increased risk of dementia. Researchers focused their attention on PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, which is made up of airborne pollutants with a diameter of less than 2.5 millimetres. The risk of dementia was examined in the meta-analysis using all relevant studies.

Researchers Reveal How Traffic Pollution Is Linked To Risk Of Dementia

Los Angeles: Researchers discovered many genetic risks distinct from those seen in people of European descent in the largest-ever genomic investigation of dementia in people of African heritage.
The scientists discovered many instances where gene variations may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias by using data from the VA Million Veteran Program (MVP).
"MVP is a fantastic resource for studying the genetics of numerous diseases, including dementia," said research author Dr. Mark Logue, a statistician at the VA Boston Healthcare System and the National Center for PTSD. "This is one of the first Alzheimer's disease-related research to emerge from MVP. My colleagues and I are working hard to expand MVP's dementia work and collaborate with other large-scale Alzheimer's disease research organizations.
In the United States, a greater proportion of African Americans have Alzheimer's disease than people of European ancestry; however, most large genetic studies of Alzheimer's disease study white participants. While there are genes implicated in Alzheimer's that are consistent across different populations, the researchers explained in the study that specific variants may differ by ancestry. That means study results using only one ethnic group may not apply to other groups, hindering dementia prevention and treatment. For example, studies have found that a gene variant called APOE E4 carries the largest genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease in people with European ancestry, but the effect of APOE E4 is half as strong in people of African ancestry. Increasing the representation of non-European ancestry populations in genome-wide association studies has been identified as a critical scientific and equity issue in genetic studies. The difference in sample sizes between European ancestry and non-European ancestry studies to date could even contribute to health disparities in minority populations, according to the study.
To address this disparity, Boston VA researchers compared the genomes of more than 4,000 MVP participants of African ancestry who had dementia with more than 18,000 Veterans without dementia. The team also conducted a second analysis comparing 7,000 black MVP participants who reported that their parents had dementia with 56,000 others whose parents didn't have dementia. This sample is more than twice the size of the previous largest Alzheimer's genetic study of individuals of African ancestry. The results showed an association between dementia risk and variants in six different genes, including APOE. While many of these genes have been linked to dementia in past genetic studies of people with European ancestry, only two of them had been identified as significant risk factors in people with African ancestry.
While many of the genetic variants identified in this study were linked to dementia in groups, the particular gene variants linked to dementia risk were different between people of African and European ancestry, meaning that different forms of the same gene may affect a person's dementia risk based on their race.
These new findings will help close the gap in knowledge of Alzheimer's risk based on ancestry, the researchers said. Identifying population-specific genetic risk factors will lead to more accurate risk assessment in people of African ancestry and could also reveal new molecular targets to develop medications to treat Alzheimer's disease.
With over 900,000 participants to date, MVP is one of the world's largest genetic research programs. MVP researchers collect genetic data in addition to information on health, lifestyle, and military exposures to understand how genes affect health and illness.
MVP is also one of the most diverse genetic programs in the world. More than 150,000 African American Veterans have volunteered to join MVP, making up 18% of all participants. This means MVP includes more people of African ancestry than any other biobank in the world. Thanks to its diversity and the altruism of the Veterans who participate, MVP is working to close the racial gap in the link between genetics and disease. "The sheer size of MVP as one of the world's largest genetic databases means that it can really push forward what is known about how genes influence dementia risk," Logue said. "Working on MVP data is an exciting opportunity for a researcher like me, and I'm grateful to all of the Veterans who agreed to be in this study." —ANI

Researchers discovered many genetic risks distinct from those seen in people of European descent in the largest-ever genomic investigation of dementia in people of African heritage.

Genetic Risk For Dementia Among People Of African Descent: Study 

Washington: Diabetes patients are twice as likely as non-diabetics to develop dementia. A new study found that persons with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who used the diabetic medicine pioglitazone were less likely to acquire dementia later in life than those who did not.
The study was published in the online issue of Neurology the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The results were strongest among people who also had a history of stroke or ischemic heart disease, a condition caused by narrowed arteries in the heart. The study does not prove that the drug reduces the risk of dementia for people with diabetes. It only shows an association.
"Since dementia develops for years before diagnosis, there may be an opportunity for intervening before it progresses," said study author Eosu Kim, MD, PhD, of Yonsei University in Seoul, Republic of Korea, adding, "These results may suggest that we could use a personalized approach to preventing dementia in people with diabetes in the case that they have a history of ischemic heart disease or stroke."
For the study, researchers looked at the national Korean health database for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who did not have dementia. They were followed for an average of 10 years. Of the 91,218 participants, 3,467 received the drug pioglitazone.
During the study, 8.3% of the people taking pioglitazone developed dementia, compared to 10.0% of those who were not taking the drug. After researchers accounted for other factors that could affect dementia risk, such as high blood pressure, smoking and physical activity, they found that people taking pioglitazone were 16% less likely to develop the disease than those who did not take it. The benefit was stronger among people who had a history of ischemic heart disease or stroke, with reduced risks of 54% and 43%.
The reduced risk also increased as people used the drug for longer periods. People who took the drug for four years were 37% less likely to develop dementia than those who did not take the drug, while those who took it for one to two years were 22% less likely. People taking the drug were also less likely to have a stroke during the study. Kim noted that side effects of pioglitazone include swelling, weight gain, bone loss and congestive heart failure, and more research is needed on the long-term safety of the drug and whether there is an optimal dose that could minimize side effects while maintaining the benefits.
"These results provide valuable information on who could potentially benefit from pioglitazone use for prevention of dementia," Kim said, adding, "In some previous studies of people with dementia or at risk of cognitive decline who did not have diabetes, pioglitazone did not show any protection against dementia, so it's likely that a critical factor affecting the effectiveness is the presence of diabetes. More research is needed to confirm these findings." A limitation of the study was information on drugs was based on insurance claims, so it's possible that some people did not take the drugs as prescribed. The study was supported by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Research Foundation of Korea. —ANI

Diabetes patients are twice as likely as non-diabetics to develop dementia. A new study found that persons with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who used the diabetic medicine pioglitazone were less likely to acquire dementia later in life than those who did not.

Medicine Linked To Lower Risk Of Dementia In People With Diabetes: Study

Minneapolis (US): Seven healthy habits and lifestyle characteristics may help reduce the incidence of dementia, according to recent research that followed female participants for 20 years.
The American Heart Association's "Life's Easy 7" determinants for cardiovascular and brain health include staying active, eating healthier, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, maintaining healthy blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, and maintaining low blood sugar.
"Since we now know that dementia can begin in the brain decades before diagnosis, it's important that we learn more about how your habits in middle age can affect your risk of dementia in old age," said Pamela Rist, ScD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "The good news is that making healthy lifestyle choices in middle age may lead to a decreased risk of dementia later in life."
The study involved 13,720 female participants with an average age of 54 at the start of the study.
After 20 years of follow-up, researchers looked at Medicare data to identify those diagnosed with dementia.
Of the participants, 1,771, or 13%, developed dementia.
For each of the seven health factors, participants were given a score of zero for poor or intermediate health and one point for ideal health, for a total possible score of 7. The average score was 4.3 at the start of the study and 4.2 10 years later.
After adjusting for factors like age and education, researchers found that for every increase of one point in the score, a participant's risk of dementia decreased by 6%. "It can be empowering for people to know that by taking steps such as exercising for half an hour a day or keeping their blood pressure under control, they can reduce their risk of dementia," Rist added. A limitation of the study was that researchers could not look at how changes in factors such as quitting smoking influenced the risk of dementia later in life. —ANI

Seven healthy habits and lifestyle characteristics may help reduce the incidence of dementia, according to recent research that followed female participants for 20 years.

Do You Know Seven Healthy Habits Can Reduce Risk Of Dementia? Study Reveals

New Delhi: The risk of developing dementia increases in persons with Type 2 diabetes who develop glucose resistance earlier in their lives, a significant study has revealed.  New research published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, shows an association between Type 2 diabetes and developing dementia in later life -- with the risk of dementia increasing the earlier a person develops the disease.  The study investigated the association between prediabetes and dementia.  Prediabetes is an intermediate stage of high blood sugar, where blood sugar is high but has not yet crossed the threshold for Type 2 diabetes.  "Prediabetes is associated with dementia risk, but this risk is explained by the development of diabetes. Diabetes onset at an early age is most strongly related to dementia," said the study by Jiaqi Hu and Professor Elizabeth Selvin of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US.  To reach this conclusion, the authors analysed data from participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Those enrolled were aged 45-64 years in 1987-1989 and from four US counties.  The cognitive function assessments incorporated data from a scoring system involving three cognitive tests.  Among 11,656 participants without diabetes at baseline, 2,330 (20 per cent) had pre-diabetes.  They found that the earlier age of progression to diabetes had the strongest association with dementia -- a 3 times increased risk of dementia for those developing diabetes before age 60.  It fell to a 73 per cent increased risk for those developing Type 2 diabetes aged 60-69 years and 23 per cent increased risk for those developing diabetes aged 70-79 years.  At ages 80 years or older, developing Type 2 diabetes was not associated with an increased risk of dementia.  "Preventing or delaying the progression of prediabetes to diabetes will substantially reduce the future burden of dementia," the authors noted. —IANS

The risk of developing dementia increases in persons with Type 2 diabetes who develop glucose resistance earlier in their lives

Dementia risk increases the younger a person develops diabetes: Study

Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania): The menopausal transition is an important moment for women and their doctors to concentrate on heart health because it safeguards their brain function, according to a study that adds to the body of evidence supporting this idea. Findings of the study published in the journal 'Alzheimer's &amp; Dementia'. "It is shocking to know that two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease are women," said Meiyuzhen (Chimey) Qi, first author and Ph.D. candidate in epidemiology at Pitt Public Health. "The most common modifiable risk factor for dementia is cardiovascular disease, and, interestingly, a woman's risk for cardiovascular disease increases after menopause. So the next logical step was to see if there was a link between cardiovascular risk factors related to the menopause transition -- such as the type of cardiovascular fat a woman has -- and her cognitive function later in life," Qi said. The scientists went to the long-running Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) and its supplementary study, SWAN Cardiovascular Fat, to investigate the idea. SWAN observed a varied group of women in their forties as they went through the menopausal transition. 531 individuals, with an average age of 51, had scans to learn about the fat around their hearts and veins. They were then monitored for 16 years, with several cognitive tests administered along the way. Cardiovascular fat is classified into three types: epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), paracardial adipose tissue (PAT), and thoracic perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), which surrounds the longest portion of the body's largest artery leading away from the heart. EAT and PAT are often poorer quality "white" fats that the body retains, but thoracic PVAT is a better quality "brown" fat that the body easily transforms to energy. The density of fat in the scans was employed as a measure of fat quality by the researchers. In this study, the researchers assessed how the quantity and quality of cardiovascular fat during midlife are related to cognitive function as women age. Quantity was measured as volume of fat, whereas quality was determined based on the density of fat. A greater volume of thoracic PVAT during midlife was related to stronger long-term memory later in life, while higher density of thoracic PVAT -- likely reflecting lower quality white fat -- was linked to worsening working memory. "This is an association. We cannot say with any certainty that higher or lower quality cardiovascular fat causes Alzheimer's disease -- but it is a tantalizing clue that makes sense," said senior author Dr Samar El Khoudary, professor of epidemiology at Pitt Public Health. "Of the different types of heart fat, PVAT is located the closest to brain circulation and brown fat is linked to better whole-body metabolism and lower markers for inflammation." During the menopause transition, women usually experience vascular or fat tissue inflammation, which may manifest as thoracic PVAT with higher density, meaning it is of lower quality. Previous studies have found that vascular inflammation promotes plaque formation, and inflamed fat tissue has abnormal secretion of cell signaling molecules, which predispose people to cognitive decline. The SWAN Cardiovascular Fat ancillary study was limited to white and Black women, so the researchers stressed that more study will be needed to see if the findings extend to women of other races and ethnicities or to men. And further research is needed to determine if the type of cardiovascular fat actually causes cognitive decline or if efforts to modify the quality of cardiovascular fat -- such as taking anti-inflammatory medications -- can stave off dementia. "That said, I believe our study is more evidence that taking care of your heart helps take care of your brain and that menopause is a particularly sensitive time for heart as well as brain health," El Khoudary said. "So staying active and regularly doing cardiovascular exercises that get your heart pumping, as well as eating a healthy diet and keeping up with doctor's appointments, are all especially important at midlife. Protecting your heart during the menopausal transition may be protecting your brain in the future." —ANI

The menopausal transition is an important moment for women and their doctors to concentrate on heart health

Age-Related Dementia May Be Warded Off By Menopausal Vascular Fat: Study

New Delhi: Even as a recent study showed the evidence linking air pollution to increased risks of dementia, doctors here on Thursday called for strict actions to make the air cleaner. Dementia is an umbrella term for an impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. According to the study, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine this week, people who lived in areas of higher particle pollution, developed dementia. The study, based on data from a survey of 27,857 people, showed that 15 per cent who developed dementia resided in areas with higher particle pollution. While previous studies have already linked overall bad air quality to a number of health problems, including the risk of developing dementia, the new study offers a finer-grained look at how specific causes of air pollution seem to be more strongly linked to dementia than others. The study comes as India continues to grapple with persistently high air pollution levels. According to the fifth annual World Air Quality Report 2022, India became the world's eighth most polluted country, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic metre, more than 10 times the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended levels. Delhi has been ranked the fourth most polluted city and the second most polluted capital city globally, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 92.6 micrograms per cubic metre. “In India higher concentrations of particulate matter in the air remain quite problematic. Tiny pollution particles get into the brain through the nose and cause neuronal cell death that is connected to dementia. Further particle pollution modifies inflammatory proteins that act on the brain,” Dr Praveen Gupta, Director Neurology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, told IANS. “This study continues to shine a light on data that shows that dementia can be affected by air pollution. It’s important that we fully understand the risks of high particulate matter in the air,” he added. Experts are concerned about the fact that quality of air in Delhi/NCR is already very toxic with change in weather conditions. With such high rates of pollution, rates of dementia will only increase unless strict actions are taken. Reducing air pollution is essential for global health and humanitarian causes, as it will have a positive impact on dementia and other climate change issues. “There is a need for collaborative action from government, healthcare community and NGOs to come together on a common platform and devise strategies to reduce risk factors and control the rates of dementia,” Dr Gupta said. Air pollution is a major and pressing public health threat. The WHO estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air that lead to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections, including pneumonia. Pollutants include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Both ambient (outdoor) and household (indoor) air pollution are harmful for health. “PM pollution is responsible for many health hazards which start in vitro (in foetus) till one is alive. The JAMA study gives another strong evidence about the health hazard of pollution,” Prof Vinay Goyal, Chairman Neurology, Medanta, Gurugram, told IANS. “Living in an unclean environment (neighbourhood of industrial area) is responsible for many health hazards. As proven by JAMA study, higher levels of pollution is responsible for developing more dementia than a clean environment,” he added. —IANS

Even as a recent study showed the evidence linking air pollution to increased risks of dementia

Doctors Call For Reducing Air Pollution To Tackle Dementia Risk

Okayama Prefecture: Intellectual disability (ID) is thought to be associated with an increased risk of dementia and its onset is influenced by both inherited and acquired factors. It is also known that a lower cognitive reserve—the capacity for thinking developed by learning and deliberate mental effort—increases the risk of dementia in the general population. It is hypothesised that dementia is more common in people with ID given the likelihood of a shorter educational lifespan and a reduced intellectual capacity. The prevalence of dementia among individuals with ID without Down syndrome (DS) in comparison to the general population is unknown, and the risk variables that affect dementia risk aren't fully understood. Recently, researchers uncovered the prevalence of dementia and identified the risk factors that can lead to dementia among people with ID in Japan. The team was led by Professor Shintaro Takenoshita, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital, Japan. Their findings were published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research &amp; Therapy on 18 July 2023. “Diagnosing dementia in people with ID is difficult owing to the mixed effects of innate cognitive decline and the cognitive decline that occurs over time due to dementia. However, it is quite possible to diagnose dementia if cognitive and lifestyle functions are assessed chronologically based on information from family and other support persons. We believe that even in persons with intellectual disabilities, dementia needs to be properly evaluated,” explains Prof. Takenoshita regarding the group’s motivation to pursue the study. The team surveyed the severity of ID, educational history, and comorbidities across 1,831 participants in residential treatment facilities spread across Japan. The relevant data was collected by interviewing caregivers of all the participants, and a direct examination was performed–using clinical criteria for dementia and neurocognitive disorders–for participants suspected of having cognitive decline. Emphasizing the report’s key findings, Prof. Takenoshita says, “We found that 6.44% of the participants were diagnosed with dementia. Furthermore, our analyses revealed that dementia was more prevalent in younger people with ID compared to the general population. Lastly, we pinpointed seven factors with significant links to dementia. These were hypertension, depression, stroke, age, severity of ID, duration of education, and traumatic brain injury.” These findings are expected to enable better screening for dementia and improve the support and medical care for people with ID. It is important to note that some of the risk factors are modifiable. Therefore, depending on a patient’s profile, providing adequate education, preventing head trauma and stroke, and making hypertension and depression medications readily available could be the first steps in preventing the onset of dementia in people with ID.  “This is the largest study that explores the prevalence of dementia in a population with ID. Additionally, we minimized the study’s bias by surveying participants from a wide geographic range. This implies that the risk factors we identified are reliable targets for designing interventions intended to minimize the risk of dementia in people with ID,” explains Prof. Takenoshita. Moving forward, Prof. Takenoshita is confident that future studies can build on the scope of his team’s work. As the understanding of dementia evolves, public health recommendations in medical policies can be developed specifically for people diagnosed with ID. Along these lines, the insights on the modifiable risk factors can potentially help catch the onset of dementia and ensure that people with ID do not miss out on treatment or interventions that are readily available. —ANI

Intellectual disability (ID) is thought to be associated with an increased risk of dementia and its onset is influenced by both inherited

Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Are At Risk For Dementia

Roorkee (The Hawk): September 21st, world Alzheimer's day, principally aimed at increasing awareness of dementia, its challenges and how to 'live-well' with the diagnosis. Reports show that people of South Asian Communities are less likely to get an early or 'timely' diagnosis, access to treatment or receive support when diagnosed. KINDURE, a social enterprise and brainchild of Dr Kavita D Mohan, consultant psychiatrist, UK, is envisioned at addressing the health issues, minimise stigma, increase awareness in South Asian (SA) Communities. Dr Kavita D Mohan, from Dehradun is passionate about mental health and mental wealth mastery. She is involved in various voluntary works, in UK and India. A seminar, hosted by High Commission of India, at a prestigious venue- Nehru Centre, London, on 21/9/2023. The attendees were from all walks of life- care-givers, health professionals or simply who wanted to learn more about the subject. Attendees appreciated the day gave excellent written and verbal feedbacks and encouragements to do more. The cherry on the cake was that many of the attendees, wish to stay connected, support and contribute.  The 'Guru Vandana' a tribute to start the day of learning, was performed by Mrs Gita Cox, a Xattriya dancer. Dr Kavita D Mohan, talked on the clinical &amp; technological aspects of dementias in the context SA community. Dr Mayuri Senapati, a consultant clinical psychologist engaged the audience with an overview of psychosocial and spiritual needs of patient with Dementia. Afifa Fatemi, masters in media, gave insight on the popular culture and dementia. Lived experience, is a concept of Learning from stories &amp; narratives from people who experience the illness or carers. Gita Cox, who has lived experience of dementia, recited a poetry written by a patient of Dr Kavita D Mohan and shared her experience of looking after her mother who suffers from early signs of dementia.

September 21st, world Alzheimer's day, principally aimed at increasing awareness of dementia, its challenges and how to 'live-well' with the diagnosis

Clinical & Technological Aspects Of  Dementia Discuss On World Alzheimer Day

London: A wide range of risk factors for young-onset dementia have been found by researchers. The findings call into question the concept that genetics is the only cause of the disease, paving the way for novel preventative techniques. The large-scale study identified 15 risk factors, which are similar to those for late-onset dementia. For the first time, they indicate that it may be possible to reduce the risk of young-onset dementia by targeting health and lifestyle factors. Relatively little research has been done on young-onset dementia, though globally there are around 370,000 new cases of young-onset dementia each year. Published in JAMA Neurology, the new research by the University of Exeter and Maastricht University followed more than 350,000 participants younger than 65 across the United Kingdom from the UK Biobank study. The team evaluated a broad array of risk factors ranging from genetic predispositions to lifestyle and environmental influences. The study revealed that lower formal education, lower socioeconomic status, genetic variation, lifestyle factors such as alcohol use disorder and social isolation, and health issues including vitamin D deficiency, depression, stroke, hearing impairment and heart disease significantly elevate risk of young-onset dementia Professor David Llewellyn of the University of Exeter emphasized the importance of the findings: "This breakthrough study illustrates the crucial role of international collaboration and big data in advancing our understanding of dementia. There's still much to learn in our ongoing mission to prevent, identify, and treat dementia in all its forms in a more targeted way. This is the largest and most robust study of its kind ever conducted. Excitingly, for the first time it reveals that we may be able to take action to reduce risk of this debilitating condition, through targeting a range of different factors. Dr Stevie Hendriks, Researcher at Maastricht University, said: "Young-onset dementia has a very serious impact, because the people affected usually still have a job, children, and a busy life. The cause is often assumed to be genetic, but for many people we don't actually know exactly what the cause is. This is why we also wanted to investigate other risk factors in this study." Sebastian Kohler, Professor of Neuroepidemiology at Maastricht University, said: "We already knew from research on people who develop dementia at older age that there are a series of modifiable risk factors. In addition to physical factors, mental health also plays an important role, including avoiding chronic stress, loneliness and depression. The fact that this is also evident in young-onset dementia came as a surprise to me, and it may offer opportunities to reduce risk in this group too." The study's support was supported by Alzheimer's Research UK, The Alan Turing Institute/Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Alzheimer Nederland, Gieskes Strijbis Fonds, the Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula (PenARC), the National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Institute on Aging, and Alzheimer Netherlands. Dr Janice Ranson, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, said: "Our research breaks new ground in identifying that the risk of young-onset dementia can be reduced. We think this could herald a new era in interventions to reduce new cases of this condition." Dr Leah Mursaleen, Head of Clinical Research at Alzheimer's Research UK, which co-funded the study, said: "We're witnessing a transformation in understanding of dementia risk and, potentially, how to reduce it on both an individual and societal level. In recent years, there's been a growing consensus that dementia is linked to 12 specific modifiable risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure and hearing loss. It's now accepted that up to four in 10 dementia cases worldwide are linked to these factors. "This pioneering study shines important and much-needed light on factors that can influence the risk of young-onset dementia. This starts to fill in an important gap in our knowledge. It will be important to build on these findings in broader studies.' The full study is entitled 'Risk factors for young-onset dementia in the UK Biobank: A prospective population-based study', published in JAMA Neurology. —ANI

A wide range of risk factors for young-onset dementia have been found by researchers. The findings call into question

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