Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms that increases the risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

At least one-third of all American adults have metabolic syndrome. You likely have metabolic syndrome if you’re affected by three or more of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal fat (or high waist circumference)
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar
• High blood triglycerides, which can raise your levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol
• Low HDL, the “good” kind of cholesterol

Now, here’s the thing: Metabolic syndrome is a turning point.

If you can tick off just one or two of the listed conditions above, you have time to turn things around. Even if you have three, it’s not impossible to stop where this is going.

And now there is yet another reason that might incentivize you…

Metabolic syndrome could drastically increased your risk for dementia and at an earlier age…

Syndrome raises dementia odds by 70%

“Our study found having metabolic syndrome in middle age is a risk factor for young-onset dementia.”

Those are the words of Minwoo Lee, MD, PhD, of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital in Anyang, South Korea.. Dr. Lee is the author of a large-scale study showing a strong connection between metabolic syndrome and early-onset dementia.

His team used health data from nearly two million people that included waist circumference, blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Of these participants, 25% had metabolic syndrome.

Eight years later, they found that metabolic syndrome was associated with a 24% higher risk of dementia. This included a 12% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and a 21% increased risk of vascular dementia.

Also, compared with male participants who “only” had a 15% increased risk, female participants were hit hardest: they had a 34% increased risk of dementia, especially if they were in their 40s.

Further, each of the five components of metabolic syndrome elevated the risk cumulatively…

In other words, people with all five components of metabolic syndrome had a whopping 70% increased risk of dementia.

Push back and lower your dementia risk

If I had to guess at why metabolic syndrome increases risk for dementia, several things come to mind…

I’d be remiss if I didn’t share that diet is essential in controlling the conditions that make up metabolic syndrome. And there are several good ones to choose from, that you can read about here.

There is also evidence that the timing of when you eat can play a significant role in avoiding metabolic syndrome.

But shortcuts are available and there’s no reason not to take advantage of them, including these:

Sources:

Metabolic Syndrome in Midlife Linked to Higher Dementia Risk — Neuroscience News

Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Young-Onset Dementia — Neurology