smoking

Even mild elevations in blood sugar increase risk of dementia

An study published in the New England Journal Medicine in August 2013 evaluated the risk of dementia in patients with increased glucose levels but without diabetes. Participants included 839 men and 1228 women without dementia at baseline and was "adjusted for age, sex, study cohort, educational level, level of exercise, blood pressure, and status with respect to coronary and cerebrovascular diseases, atrial fibrillation, smoking, and treatment for hypertension."

"During a median follow-up of 6.8 years, dementia developed in 524 participants (74 with diabetes and 450 without). Among participants without diabetes, higher average glucose levels within the preceding 5 years were related to an increased risk of dementia (P=0.01); with a glucose level of 115 mg per deciliter ..."

The authors concluded:

"Our results suggest that higher glucose levels may be a risk factor for dementia, even among persons without diabetes. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.)"

(bold highlighting added)

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23924004

THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION, Part One: Consequences of Obesity

By Suzanne

WOTN-Poster.jpg

According to Donald Lloyd-Jones MD, Chair of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, ideal cardiovascular health is characterized by meeting each of the following criteria:

  • Optimal levels of total cholesterol
  • Normal blood pressure
  • Not having diabetes
  • Having a lean BMI
  • Not smoking
  • Participating in recommended levels of physical activity
  • Pursuing a healthy diet

How do you measure up?  Surprisingly, less than 1% of the United States population currently meet these criteria. A key reason: overweight and obesity affect 69% of the U.S. population. The initial one hour segment of the WEIGHT OF THE NATION focuses upon the health consequences of overweight and obesity. Together, they are creating a tsunami of chronic disease costing an additional $150 Billion in health care costs.  

See PART I here.

Related Post

THE WEIGHT OF THE NATION