Dementia is often linked to problems in the brain, like Alzheimer’s disease or strokes. But new research shows that in about one-third of cases, the cause may lie elsewhere in the body. This discovery could change how we think about, prevent, and treat dementia.
Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University reviewed years of data and examined the connection between dementia and 26 diseases that don’t directly affect the brain. These are called peripheral diseases and include conditions like gum disease, liver problems, hearing loss, and type 2 diabetes.
The results of their study, published in Nature Human Behavior, showed that 16 of the 26 peripheral diseases they studied are linked to a higher risk of dementia. These include: gum disease, chronic liver disease, hearing loss, vision loss, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis, stroke, heart disease, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
To find this out, the researchers looked at over 200 studies and used data from global health databases. They estimated how many dementia cases around the world might be tied to these diseases. Their results showed that these 16 conditions together could be responsible for about 33% of all dementia cases—that’s nearly 19 million people globally.
Some of the top contributors were gum disease (about 6% of dementia cases), liver disease (5.5%), hearing loss (4.7%), vision loss (4.3%), and type 2 diabetes (3.8%).
Dr. Zhenhong Deng, Yuxin Yang, and their team believe that treating these common health problems early could help reduce the risk of dementia later in life. They also noted that the effects vary by age, sex, region, and social and economic status.
This research doesn’t prove that these diseases directly cause dementia, but it highlights a strong connection that should be studied further. Understanding how diseases outside the brain affect memory and thinking may lead to better prevention and treatment options.
The study suggests that dementia might sometimes be avoided by managing other health issues, not just focusing on the brain. Future research may explore how these diseases are linked to brain health and help develop new strategies for early detection and care.
These findings show the importance of whole-body health in protecting the brain. Public health efforts to treat common conditions like diabetes, hearing loss, or gum disease could also help reduce the global burden of dementia.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about low choline intake linked to higher dementia risk, and how eating nuts can affect your cognitive ability.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
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