Studies indicate that lifestyle changes, such as preventing hearing loss, maintaining social connections, and quitting smoking, play a significant role in reducing the risk of dementia.
Khaberni -A team of American researchers identified 4 distinct pathways that lead to dementia, which could revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The research team analyzed data from more than 24,000 patients and discovered that dementia could follow 4 main health pathways: psychiatric conditions, brain dysfunction diseases, mild cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular diseases.
The researchers found that each pathway has unique characteristics that define a specific population, aiding doctors in diagnosing the disease more quickly and accurately.
The study showed that over a quarter of the cases were the result of a sequence of health issues, such as hypertension followed by depression, increasing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease.
This discovery contributes to the development of treatment plans customized for each patient, where early intervention in diseases not directly linked to the brain, such as controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels with specific medications, can reduce the risk of dementia.
Dr. Timothy Chang, the lead researcher of the study, mentioned that focusing on the sequential patterns of disease progression instead of individual diagnoses might improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and enhance the chances of early intervention.
Early signs of the disease also include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, mood disorders, alongside less pronounced sensory symptoms such as changes in vision, hearing, and balance.
Experts stress the importance of including these sensory symptoms in diagnostic tests to enhance early detection of the disease.
Recent research suggests that regular physical exercise, a healthy diet, and engaging in simple mental exercises help maintain brain health and reduce the risk of dementia.
However, researchers caution that excessive high-intensity exercise may lead to serious health complications like cerebral hemorrhage.
The study was published in the medical journal "Lancet".
