Loss Of This Muscle Could Be A Specific New Sign of Dementia Risk
Dementia is a devastating condition that impacts up to 10 percent of older adults.
Newly published research suggests that a reduction in the size of a specific muscle may indicate that someone has an increased risk of dementia.
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a63217090/muscle-loss-dementia-study/
This study was presented at the Radiological Society of North America meeting in December 2024. It analyzed data from 621 cognitively healthy people who participated in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.
Skeletal muscle loss called sarcopenia, has been recognized as being associated with cognitive decline in older adults. In this study MRI scans of the brain, specifically evaluated the temporalis muscle, and their data indicated that it could predict risk of dementia. This research was done at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. Their idea is that measuring the temporalis muscle size could offer a low-cost, non-invasive method to assess the general state of a person’s muscle status. Their statement says, “Measuring the temporalis muscle size as a potential indicator for generalized skeletal muscle status offers an opportunity for muscle quantification without additional cost or burden in older adults who already undergo brain MRIs”.
Prior research has shown that skeletal muscle mass which naturally declines with age is often associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. There are also studies that have suggested that the thickness and size of the temporalis muscle, a jaw-related muscle located on the side of the head, reflects systemic muscle loss.
This research was a collaborative effort between radiology and neurology doctors at Johns Hopkins University. They analyzed the data acquired from the imaging studies of 621 cognitively healthy individuals registered with the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Over a median follow-up of 5.8 years, researchers monitored dementia incidence, cognitive and functional changes, and brain structure.
They found that participants with smaller temporalis muscles had a 60% higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Smaller muscle size was also correlated with declining memory scores, functional abilities, and reduced brain volumes. They say, “These results demonstrate that older adults with smaller skeletal muscles are at greater risk of cognitive decline.” This research has opened avenues for integrating muscle health into routine brain imaging, providing early insights into dementia risks and enhancing preventative care strategies. There is the potential of brain MRI being used to track generalized muscle loss (sarcopenia) as a marker for dementia risk.
As has been previously shown, resistance training, and increased physical activity, along with optimized nutrition, may slow the onset of cognitive decline.
In 2022, a JAMA Network Open study of over 8,000 older adults was published and they found that low muscle mass was linked with a quick decline in executive mental functioning, the set of skills that allow you to plan and organize. “The relationship between muscle loss and dementia is increasingly recognized as significant, though not yet fully understood,” said Ryan Glatt, CPT, Director of the FitBrain Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, California. He further explains,
“A smaller temporalis muscle can actually indicate sarcopenia, which is the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. “Systemic sarcopenia is often linked to frailty, reduced mobility, and metabolic dysfunction, all factors that are associated with cognitive decline.”
Although the mechanism by which it works is not clearly understood it is felt that muscle loss likely plays a role in processes that impact brain health. DRr Glatt says that muscle loss should be seen as a “meaningful warning sign,” particularly when it gets worse with age.
“It often reflects underlying health concerns, including poor nutrition, reduced physical activity, and systemic inflammation, all of which can contribute to dementia risk. Addressing muscle loss through resistance training, proper nutrition, and regular physical activity is essential for maintaining overall health and may offer protective benefits for cognitive function.”
other warning signs of dementia
Previous research has found that these are some of the known signs of an increased dementia risk
- Never exercising
- Drinking alcohol excessively
- Having diabetes
- Obesity
- Having poor physical health
- Not having a private health insurance plan at age 60
- No work experience, or only a few years of work experience
- Scoring low on physical tests, including breathing, grip strength, walking speed, and balance
- Not engaging in hobbies or activities that promote learning
- Having certain genes
Is it possible to prevent dementia?
These are some of the things doctors generally agree you should include for prevention of dementia.
- Get good sleep
- Exercise 150 minutes per week
- Taking care of your heart health
- Be social
- Try to learn something new
- Looking for vitamin deficiencies
- Protecting your head from injuries
https://drsobo.com/healthy-diet-reduces-dementia-risk-and-slows-aging/
A HEALTHY DIET
A study published in the medical journal The Annals of Neurology from the Columbia University School of Public Health and Aging Center supports the hypothesis that healthier diets are associated with a slower pace of aging and a reduced risk of developing dementia. 10.1002/ana.26900
It has long been felt that those who ate slowed down the process of biological aging. In this study they specifically showed that a healthier diet makes the development of dementia less likely. Daniel Belsky, PhD, senior author of the study explains, “Much attention to nutrition in dementia research focuses on the way specific nutrients affect the brain. We tested the hypothesis that a healthy diet protects against dementia by slowing down the body’s overall pace of biological aging.” For this study over 1,600 participants 60 years or older who were free of dementia were evaluated. The study data began to be measured in 1991, and the participants were evaluated every 4 to 7 years.
At each follow-up visit, a physical examination was performed , a lifestyle-related questionnaire was reviewed ,neurocognitive testing was done and blood samples were taken. Over the years 140 of the 1,644 participants had developed dementia by the end of the study.
Yian Gu, PhD, the other senior author of the study, stated that “We have some strong evidence that a healthy diet can protect against dementia, but the mechanism of this protection is not well understood.”
THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
https://drsobo.com/mediterranean-diet-reduces-risk-of-dementia/
Published in the scientific journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, A Mediterranean Diet‐Based Metabolic Score and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: A Case–Control Analysis Nested within the Three‐City Cohort Study.
The results showed a protective association between a higher on the score of the Mediterranean diet scale based on serum biomarkers and less cognitive decline in the elderly. Researcher Dr. Alba Tor-Roca, explained “we found that adherence to Mediterranean diet assessed by a panel of dietary biomarkers is inversely associated with long-term cognitive decline in older people. These results support the use of these indicators in long-term follow-up assessments to observe the health benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet or other dietary patterns and therefore, guide personalized counselling at older ages.” Funding was obtained through the International Joint Program Initiative called “A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life”.
LOWER DEMENTIA RISK BY ELIMINATING THESE 14 RISK FACTORS
https://drsobo.com/lower-dementia-risk-eliminating-these-14-risk-factors/
The Lancet, one of the most well-known and respected scientific/ medical journals in the world, has published reviews of the state of scientific knowledge regarding risk factors for dementia and what can be done to prevent the ever-increasing incidence of dementia as a worldwide health problem. The number of people with dementia worldwide in 2019 was estimated at 57 million and is projected to increase to 153 million by 2050.4 They outlined the known risk factors and spoke to what an individual can do to prevent the onset of dementia and presented the latest research and knowledge that can enable public health officials to cultivate public health policies to protect their populations.
The Lancet Commission’s scientific reviews were published first in 2017 and updated in 2020, which documented twelve risk factors for dementia. Now in the new comprehensive review published as their 2024 update, they have added 2 more risk factors for dementia that we should all be aware of. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01296-0/fulltext
The 2024 update of the Lancet Commission on Dementia provides new hopeful evidence about dementia prevention, intervention, and care. As people live longer, the number of people who live with dementia continues to rise, emphasizing the need to identify and implement preventive approaches.
- hypertension
- physical inactivity
- diabetes
- excessive alcohol consumption
- smoking
- obesity
- depression
- hearing loss
- social isolation
- traumatic brain injury
- less education
- air pollution
- Untreated vision loss
- High LDL cholesterol
The Lancer Commission says, “Modifying 14 risk factors might prevent or delay nearly half of dementia cases”
They advise, “Be ambitious about prevention. Prevention involves both policy changes at national and international governmental levels and individually tailored interventions. Population-based policy should prioritize equity and ensure that groups at high risk are included. Actions to decrease dementia risk should begin early and continue throughout life. Risk is clustered in individuals; therefore, interventions should often be multicomponent.”
