With almost half of dementia cases preventable, Queensland researchers believe they have uncovered a new early warning system.
Study lead author Jacob Levenstein, from the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Thompson Institute said lifestyle risk factors may be leaving chemical warning signs of decline in the brain long before any symptoms of dementia played out.
“Forty-five percent of dementia cases are potentially preventable, and simple lifestyle choices including exercise, diet and social connection all contribute to your risk score,” Dr Levenstein said.
He said the study suggested those factors were leaving chemical warning signs of decline in the brain.
“It not only opens new avenues for early detection in dementia research – it could also help our understanding of how the brain deteriorates to increase risk of earlier dementia.”
Dr Levenstein the study used Magnetic Resonance Imaging and MR-spectroscopy to measure the brain chemical levels of 79 healthy older adults.
He said all participants had normal memory, thinking skills and cognitive function.
“What varied was their modifiable-dementia risk score – calculated from health and lifestyle factors such as physical activity, sleep, social engagement, and diet.”
Dr Levenstein said the researchers discovered specific patterns in individuals’ brain chemistry relating to that risk score.
“We examined the concentration levels of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) – which you can think of as the brain’s ‘brake system’,” he said.
“GABA is a neurochemical messenger that helps calm down brain activity and keep neural networks balanced. These results suggest ‘riskier’ lifestyle choices could hinder the brain’s ability to properly regulate itself.
“We found that with higher modifiable dementia risk scores, individuals had lower GABA concentrations in movement and sensory brain regions.”
Read the full study: Neurophysiological correlates of modifiable dementia risk factors in cognitively unimpaired older adults.
