What does your belt size and how well you can remember your to-do list have in common? Well, some scientists are now saying plenty. A new French study just published in the on-line issue of Neurology, shows that older folks with large waistlines, high blood pressure and other factors of a condition which is known as metabolic syndrome can be at a greater risk for memory loss.
Over 50 million Americans have Metabolic Syndrome. The condition is characterized by a group of risk factors which includes:
Abdominal obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen)
Atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol that foster plaque buildups in artery walls)
Elevated blood pressure
Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (the body cant properly use insulin or blood sugar)
Prothrombotic state (e.g., high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor1 in the blood)
Proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated C-reactive protein in the blood)
Doctors already know that people with the metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease and other diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls (e.g., stroke and peripheral vascular disease) and type 2 Diabetes. Now they may be adding add memory loss to the list.
In the new study, 7,087 people 65 and older from three French cities were tested to see if they had three or more of the risk factors of metabolic syndrome, and 16% did.Heres how the study worked: Each participants was given a series of memory tests and tests of cognitive function two and four years later. A memory test, a test of visual working memory, and a test of word fluency were part of the examination procedure.People who had metabolic syndrome were 20% more likely to have cognitive decline on a memory test than those who did not, according to the researchers. In addition, people with metabolic syndrome were 13% more likely to have cognitive decline on the visual working memory test, compared to people not diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Also, higher triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol were associated with poorer memory scores. And diabetes had an association with poorer visual working memory and word fluency scores.Ultimately, these results suggest that management of metabolic syndrome may help slow down age-related memory loss or delay the onset of dementia.The researchers suggest a next step in their line of research might be a large study to determine whether intensive treatment of older people with metabolic syndrome could slow down cognitive deterioration.
FIVE SIMPLE WAYS TO EAT LESSMeanwhile, eating well and losing weight is the best way to deal with metabolic syndrome. Here are five simple ways to do it:DRINK WATER. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. Dont substitute for juice. Your body should always be hydrated. Your kidneys will thank you as it can easily flush out the waste. With adequate water intake your body will be able to metabolize fat more effectively. And if you have a glass of water 10-15 minutes prior to your meal, you will feel full once you start eating.EAT FIVE SMALL MEALS A DAY. You dont need to gobble up 5 large meals, just 3 meals of a sensible size and 2 delicious yet low calories snack. Eat sensibly so your body doesnt crave more food.PUMP IRON. Needless to say, exercise is crucial to weight loss. You cant expect to sit on the couch all day, sip water and lose weight. If you use weights they can help you build muscle and your metabolism rate will increase. Youll be able to see the fat come off and in its place muscle will develop.OPT FOR SMALLER DARKER SMALLER PLATES AND PORTIONS. Today most restaurant burger can feed two people. Check your portions the next time you dine out. You dont need to finish every morsel. Ask your waiter to put half of your meal into a doggy bag before it even makes to the table. When eating at home, use small sized plates and try to use plates of dark colors. Dark blue will be your best choice since its the number one color that fights off the appetite. Avoid red, orange and yellow in your dining area they are the ones making your appetite go sky high. Uh, think about the McDonalds logo.DONT BE FOOLED BY FAKE PROMISES. It could be fat free but may still have a lot of calories. You need to analyze the nutrition label on the cover. The number one example of this is sodas. Find out whats good for you and what isnt. Knowing in advance can help you stay away from products that are calorie-enriched. Robin Westen is ThirdAges medical reporter. Check for her daily She is the author of Relationship Repair. See what others have to say about this story or leave a comment of your own.
