Imagine our bodies as a complex puzzle, where different pieces represent our lifestyle choices and chronic diseases. In the case of older adults, this study explored how these puzzle pieces come together and influence dementia. The researchers looked at multidomain lifestyles (including factors like physical activity, diet, cognitive engagement) and chronic diseases (such as cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension) to see how they individually impact dementia. But what they found was even more interesting – these lifestyle factors and chronic diseases interacted with each other, creating a powerful combined effect on dementia. It’s like seeing how different ingredients interact in a recipe to create a delicious dish. The study also showed that an unhealthy lifestyle was associated with a higher prevalence of dementia, even without chronic diseases. But when chronic diseases were present, the association became even stronger. So taking care of both our lifestyle choices and chronic diseases may have a significant impact on reducing the risk of dementia. This study adds valuable insights to our understanding of the connections between lifestyle, chronic diseases, and dementia in older adults. If you want to delve deeper into the research findings, check out the full article!

BackgroundUnhealthy lifestyles and chronic diseases are commonly seen and treatable factors in older adults and are both associated with dementia. However, the synergistic effect of the interaction of lifestyles and chronic diseases on dementia is unknown.MethodsWe determined independent associations of multidomain lifestyles and chronic diseases (cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension) with dementia and examined their synergistic impact on dementia among older adults. The data were drawn from the Hubei Memory and Aging Cohort Study. We created a summary score of six factors for multidomain lifestyles. Dementia was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV. Logistic regression and multiple correspondence analyses were used to explore the relationships among multidomain lifestyles, chronic diseases, and dementia. A sensitivity analysis was performed to minimize the interference of reverse causality and potential confounders.ResultsIndependent associations with dementia were found in unhealthy (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.38–2.61) and intermediate healthy lifestyles (OR, 3.29, 2.32–4.68), hypertension (OR, 1.21, 1.01–1.46), diabetes (OR, 1.30, 1.04–1.63), and cerebrovascular disease (OR, 1.39, 1.12–1.72). Interactions of diabetes (p = 0.004), hypertension (p = 0.004), and lifestyles were significant, suggesting a combined impact on dementia. Sensitivity analysis supported the strong association among multidomain lifestyles, chronic diseases, and dementia prevalence.ConclusionAn unhealthy lifestyle was associated with a higher prevalence of dementia, regardless of whether the participants had chronic diseases; however, this association was stronger in individuals with chronic diseases. Multidomain lifestyles and chronic diseases may have an enhanced impact on dementia.

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