The Relationship Between a High-Salt Diet and Dementia

Blog  |  August 12, 2018

Is A High-Salt Diet to Blame for Causing Dementia?

High-Salt Diet and Dementia | For decades, doctors, scientists, patients, and family members have all tried to decipher what causes dementia. Current knowledge about the debilitating disease has included physiological changes, such as the presence of protein tangles and obscure-looking blood vessels in the brain. Still, the exact cause of dementia is still unclear.

Reduced blood flow to the brain is a common effect of dementia, as well as the reduction of brain cells, but physical trauma to the brain, such as a stroke, tumor, or head injury, can cause certain types of dementia. Those who develop the disease without experiencing trauma, often question the cause and wonder, “What could I have done to prevent this?” Finally, scientists have found out at least one possible answer to what causes dementia.

A high-salt diet might be at least partly responsible for the development of certain kinds of dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease.

When testing the theory on mice, the scientists discovered surprising results weeks later: reduced blood flow to the brain, loss of spatial memory, and a cognitive decline. The clear indicators of these symptoms were in the rodents’ failure to find their way out of a maze – a skill they were once successful at – and perhaps most unexpected, lost memories on nest-building; an innate ability that comes naturally to rodents. However, once taken off their high-salt diets, the mice’s blood flow was normal after four weeks.

Since dementia patients often find themselves forgetting to perform tasks that are associated with daily living – not unlike the results of the mice – the comparisons are worth noting. Because blood flow to the brain is slower in Alzheimer’s patients, these results are enough to convince doctors to urge everyone to moderate their salt intake to mitigate and defend against the decline of mental capacities.

So, If a High-Salt Is to Blame. Now What?

A high-salt diet has long been responsible for high blood pressure and even stomach cancer, but it could also be a potential culprit for the onset of dementia.

The reduction of blood flow to the brain caused by the salt can decrease cognitive function, though doctors suggest feeding your brain two types of food to help regulate blood flow: glucose and oxygen. For people with diabetes, this may seem counterproductive, but there are ways to keep that blood flowing to your brain without compromising your health. By merely adjusting the amount of glucose you consume, you could manage both your insulin levels and your cerebral performance.

There is still a lot to learn when it comes to getting to the bottom of what causes dementia, but for now, it’s worth reading the sodium labels on your food, being aware of the amount that goes into dishes at restaurants or fast food chains, and adjusting your diet appropriately.

Comfort Keepers® Georgian Triangle Can Help Understand How a High-Salt Diet and Dementia Affects Seniors

If you are concerned about the health and wellbeing of your aging loved ones we can help. Comfort Keepers®’ trained homecare caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

What’s more, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind: empathy. Care that is empathetic is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. Learn more about our unique service offering by contacting the Comfort Keepers Georgian Triangle office.

If you live in the Collingwood, Midland, Owen Sound area, contact Comfort Keepers at (705) 293-5553, or email us at georgiantriangle@comfortkeepers.ca for the best possible homecare from a reputable elder care agency.

Comfort Keepers Georgian Triangle is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.

Comfort Keepers Georgian Triangle has received the Primer Award with Accreditation Canada; Working with health, social, and community service organizations to advance quality and safety.

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