Dementia, an umbrella term for a state marked by the incapacity to think and execute daily tasks, is one of the most devastating cognitive health problems. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent kinds of dementia, and it comprises social symptoms that make life difficult.
The progressive sickness is one of the most puzzling diseases since there are no underlying causes or risk factors to be aware of. Although food and heredity are frequently blamed for dementia risk, recent scientific study has discovered that a certain blood group can nearly quadruple a patient’s risk of dementia.
The blood group that may raise your risk of developing dementia
As per a study published in the journal Neurology, it was confirmed that people with AB blood group are 82 per cent more likely to develop memory and thinking problems related to dementia.
Besides blood group, studies have also revealed other major risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia:
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
Additionally, blood types can also define the risk of stroke as per several studies, but this effect needs more research for further validation.
The reason behind this risk
One may think that how a particular blood type impacts dementia risk. However, there are inherent proteins that make all the difference. Factor VII helps the blood to clot and people with AB type have higher levels of the same which is linked to dementia risk.
Besides dementia, AB-type blood group can place one at risk of the following conditions:
- Pancreatic cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Severe, symptomatic COVID-19
Symptoms and risk factors of dementia explained
An increasingly common condition these days, dementia is mostly diagnosed in people about 65 years of age and comes with the following symptoms:
- Impaired memory
- Inability to think
- Personality changes
- Difficulty in concentration
- Judgment issues
As for the risk factors besides blood type, patients must watch out for the following:
- Unhealthy lifestyle
- Smoking
- Excess alcohol intake
- Lack of exercising
- Unhealthy diet
- Head injury
- Age
- Heart diseases
- Family history