January 1, 2013.
The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society recently reported the finding of researchers in Japan of a protective effect for a high intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium against the development of vascular dementia. For the current study, a team from Kyushu University in Fukuoka analyzed data from 1,081 men and women who were free of dementia upon enrollment in the Hisayama Study, a prospective study of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases among residents of Hisayama, Japan. Dietary survey responses provided information on the intake of calcium, magnesium and potassium.l Over a 17 year follow-up period, 303 participants developed dementia, of which 166 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and 98 with vascular dementia.
Among those whose calcium intake was among the highest 25 percent of participants, the risk of developing dementia was 36 percent lower than those whose intake was among the lowest fourth. Having a high intake of magnesium conferred a 37 percent lower risk and high potassium was associated with a 48 percent lower risk when compared to those whose intake was among the lowest. Analysis of men and women who had vascular dementia found risk reductions of 76 percent, 74 percent and 80 percent among those whose levels of calcium, magnesium and potassium was among the highest one-fourth of participants. While the risk of Alzheimer's disease was also reduced in association with higher mineral intake, no linear associations were observed.
"To the best of the knowledge of the authors of the current study, this is the first prospective cohort study showing that higher self-reported dietary intakes of potassium, calcium, and magnesium are associated with a lower risk of dementia," Mio Ozawa and colleagues announce. "Further epidemiological and clinical studies are warranted to determine whether a diet rich in these minerals can lessen the future risk of dementia."
Reduced mineral intake linked to higher dementia risk
