Alzheimer’s is often connected to other health issues.

Illnesses often do not occur in isolation.

The body is comprised of several systems and all parts impact  one another.

Remember the old song:

Regardless, some ailments co-occur more than others.

After all, it is hard to fool your gene pool, but the lifestyle decisions we make do impact our long-term health.

According to a recent Money Talks News article titled “2 Common Health Problems Linked to Higher Alzheimer’s Risk,” a recent study conducted by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine focused on how Alzheimer’s relates to other ailments.

Reducing cholesterol intake may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer’s Association published the study results in its medical journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

The dementia study utilized information from more than 4,900 participants from the Framingham Heart Study.

These participants had their cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, blood pressure, smoking status, and body mass index measured regularly.

As they aged, participants also were given cognitive health exams.

The researchers from Boston University School of Medicine looked at the data according to life stages.

These were categorized as “early adulthood” for ages 35 to 50, “middle adulthood” for ages 51 to 60, and “late adulthood” for ages 61 to 70.

The results of the study?

IT concluded there was a connection between risk factors present in middle adulthood to the greater risk of Alzheimer’s in older adulthood.

What were these results?

The researchers found those with high triglycerides and lower HDL in early adulthood had a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

In middle adulthood, those who had a high blood glucose level demonstrated a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s in older adulthood.

What do these results mean?

Lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

The National Institute on Aging recommends individuals manage glucose levels and cholesterol levels to decrease their chances of cognitive decline in older age.

Further studies must be conducted to determine whether making similar lifestyle changes would reduce the risk of other forms of dementia.

In the end, each of us is responsible for our own lifestyle choices and the trajectory of our own health outcomes.

Make sure you have an ongoing relationship with your personal physician to monitor your metrics and adjust accordingly.

Reference: Money Talks News (Nov. 14, 2022) “2 Common Health Problems Linked to Higher Alzheimer’s Risk”