The question is: How fast will you really age?
Researchers have proven time and time again that a number of factors can make a slow slip into a faster decline.
Ten or 20 years from now, you don’t want to be the one who gets “the call” saying you forgot your groceries at the store. This means you need to prepare.
Check out these six factors that can hasten mental decline.
Obesity
Carrying extra weight affects more than just the fit of your favorite skinny jeans. In fact, it may have a direct effect on cognitive function.
Research shows that metabolic abnormalities (like high blood pressure and obesity) directly affect cognitive skills as we age. A study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), shows that those with obesity and metabolic abnormality age faster in the mind.
The study included 6,401 people with the average age at the beginning of the study being 50. Over the course of 10 years, those involved were given memory and cognitive skills testing three times.
Guess what they found out? Those with these factors declined 22.5 percent more rapidly on cognitive test scores when compared to normal-weight individuals who presented with no metabolic abnormalities.
“Metabolic abnormality was defined as having two or more of the following risk factors: high blood pressure or taking medication for it; low HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol; high blood sugar or taking diabetes medication; and high triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood) or taking medication to lower cholesterol,” according to a press release issued by the AAN.
So maybe listening to your doctor’s advice isn’t such a bad idea. Make it a point to get your numbers in check.
Low Levels of Vitamin D
Could low levels of vitamin D and cognitive decline be linked? The answer is yes.
A recent study published in JAMA Neurology shows that older adults who suffer from dementia often have low levels of vitamin D. Though researchers aren’t exactly sure why vitamin D affects mental decline, they have strong thoughts on the process in general.
"There is good evidence that vitamin D gets into all cells of the body, including the brain," says study author Joshua Miller, chair of the department of nutritional sciences at Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences in New Brunswick, N.J., in an article published by U.S. News & World Report. One theory is that “vitamin D protects the brain from developing the plaques and tangles that are associated with Alzheimer's disease,” according to the article.
Miller says most people older than 75 in the United States are likely vitamin D-deficient. That’s a scary thing.
So no matter what your age, make it a habit to get adequate vitamin D. The Institute of Medicine says that you should have 600 IU of vitamin D daily.
Hearing Loss
“Say it again?”
We’ve all experienced the frustration of trying to communicate with a friend or loved one who is hearing challenged. It’s a tedious process. And as it turns out, hearing loss may have an impact on mental decline.
A study conducted by hearing experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that older adults with hearing loss lose cognitive function more quickly than those who have normal hearing. In fact, those with hearing loss had a 30 to 40 percent faster rate of cognitive decline than those with normal hearing.
“On average, older adults with hearing loss developed a significant impairment in their cognitive abilities 3.2 years sooner than those with normal hearing,” according to the study.
Smoking
Listen up, smokers. That bad habit has a lot of health implications, including effects on cognitive function -- especially in men.
Research shows that smoking actually hastens mental decline. A 2012 study showed that, compared to nonsmokers, middle-aged male smokers experienced faster cognitive decline.
“Smoking seemed to speed up the cognitive aging process, making men function mentally as if they were 10 years older,” says Severine Sabia, the study's lead author, in an ABC News article. "For example, a 50-year-old male smoker shows a similar cognitive decline as a 60-year-old male never-smoker.”
The good news is that quitting restores functioning. “In ex-smokers with at least a 10-year cessation, there were no adverse effects on cognitive decline,” the study says.
Diabetes
Diabetes: It’s an American epidemic. And along with elevating numerous health risks, diabetes in midlife can impact cognitive abilities years down the road.
A study found that those who have diabetes in midlife may experience cognitive decline years later. The condition was associated with a 19 percent greater cognitive decline over 20 years. And those with long-term diabetes experienced a greater decline later in life.
The good news is that there is something you can do to prevent this health issue. The study concludes that diabetes prevention and glucose control in midlife may protect against late-life cognitive decline.
So get blood sugar levels tested regularly. And if you do have diabetes, make the necessary lifestyle changes your physician recommends. This will help to prevent or slow your rate of decline.
Heart Risks
We all know that cardiovascular risks come with numerous potential health consequences. But did you know cognitive decline is one of them?
“Cardiovascular risk factors in middle age are associated with brain deterioration and a decline in mental function later in life. According to a study published in Neurology, high blood pressure at the start of the study was associated with an increased appearance of white areas on the scan, a sign of brain deterioration.
So be aware of your cardiovascular health. Start making lifestyle changes now.