A major new study suggests it's possible to avoid developing dementia

[Pluvious]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by JudyM (a host of the The DU Lounge forum).

"5 ways to reduce your risk"

Maybe this piece will be of interest to someone...

It's rhetorical to ask, of course, why is it that most things we like are bad.

:-/

Living a healthy lifestyle could help you reduce your risk of dementia, even if you have a genetic risk of the disease, a new study published in the peer-reviewed health journal JAMA found. The study analyzed data from 196,383 adults of European ancestry aged 60 and older. Of that sample, the researchers identified 1,769 cases of dementia over a follow-up period of eight years.

...

Drinking at least one artificially sweetened beverage daily was associated with almost three times the risk of developing stroke or dementia.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-major-new-study-suggests-its-possible-to-avoid-dementia-here-are-5-ways-to-reduce-your-risks-2019-07-15

[True Dough]

1. Oh no!

The study warns the public to avoid artificial sweeteners. I have consumed enough sucralose in juice to fill the Pacific Ocean. Oh well, it was nice knowing, y'all!

[hlthe2b]

3. You should be aware that these studies were conducted before sucralose had any real marketshare

and thus are looking at (mainly) aspartame and saccharin.

This study was conducted when most artificially sweetened beverages contained saccharin (Sweet’N Low, Sweet Twin), acesulfame-K (Sunett, Sweet One), or aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal). Newer sweeteners, such as sucralose (as in Splenda) were unlikely to have been included.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/could-artificial-sweeteners-be-bad-for-your-brain-2017060711849

[True Dough]

4. Phew!

Thank you for pointing that out, hlthe2b. I consume so much sucralose and stevia. I'm sure the latter is safe because it's a natural product and it's been use for decades in Japan, possibly elsewhere. Sucralose has a bit of a question mark hanging over it for now, I guess.

[hlthe2b]

8. Those are the only two I use too and only in the occasional latte or smoothie.

I gave up all diet soft drinks nearly 5 years ago.

[True Dough]

10. I was never one for soda anyway

Most of the news articles I've seen usually have cited diet soda as the main cause of concern for possible higher risk of stroke. I'll keep drinking my sucralose juice. It really does taste great and has fewer calories, not none.

[unc70]

6. Those studies are problematic

People who use artificial sweeteners are more likely to have health issues to begin with -- obesity, diabetes, etc. finding causality in such population studies is really tricky.

[Demovictory9]

11. lol. I drink diet coke all the time.

[True Dough]

12. Maybe we'll share a hospital room, Demovictory9!

And we'll order diet drinks from our medical center menus.

[ProudLib72]

13. Can I have your stereo?

[True Dough]

14. It has a lot of great features

I know you'll take good care of it.

[PennyK]

2. This seems way too vague

Everyone does at least two or three things they talk about. And both sugar and artificial sweeteners are bad? I eat fat, salt, take an antidepressant, but avoid sugar, don't drink, do moderate exercise.

[Lochloosa]

5. I would comment, but I forgot what the subject was.

[qazplm135]

7. two to three times what?

That's the problem with these studies...two to three times a large risk? a small risk? A medium risk? A tiny risk?

Usually, it's a tiny risk. Thus, folks freak out but it's still a very small risk.
Bit if it's a large or even medium risk then that's a big deal obviously.

[Beringia]

9. I think it also has to do with your engagement in life

My mother got dementia rapidly when she got tired of finding something interesting to be engaged in every day.

[JudyM]

15. Locking.

Interesting post, but it was alerted on for not belonging in the Lounge. Here’s the SOP for the Lounge:

Our social forum. Relax with your friends and talk about off-topic stuff. The Lounge is supposed to be a friendly, welcoming place for everyone. No cliquish behavior. No drama. No political arguments. No whining about DU.

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