Researchers have studied the influence of magnesium intake on dementia risk factors. They found that a high magnesium intake is linked to a lower risk of dementia.
Further research is needed to confirm these results. In 2019, 57.4 million people had dementia worldwide. By 2050, this figure is expected to reach 152.8 million.
Since there is currently no cure for dementia, many researchers are emphasizing preventive strategies
A study that followed 1,000 middle-aged adults for 17 years found that people who took the most magnesium had a 37% lower risk of developing dementia than people who took the least. Further research on the link between magnesium and cognitive status could lead to dementia prevention strategies.
Recently, researchers have studied the influence of magnesium intake on the risk of dementia over time. They found that a high magnesium intake is linked to better brain health, especially in women. Although more research is needed on this topic, the results of this study suggest that high magnesium intake is associated with better brain health and may potentially be linked to preserved mental function and reduced or delayed risk of developing dementia. The study was published in the European Journal of Nutrition.
350 vs. 550 mg of magnesium per day
For the study, the researchers included health data from 6,001 participants aged 40 to 73 from the UK Biobank. Data included blood pressure measurements, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination and dietary magnesium intake over a 24-hour period, five times over a 16-month period. Over 95% of participants consumed stable amounts of magnesium during the study period. However, some have increased their consumption over time, while others have decreased it.
In the end, the researchers found that a higher dietary intake of magnesium was linked to larger brain volumes and smaller white matter lesions (LMS), two indicators of dementia, in MRI scans. They also found that a daily intake of more than 550 mg of magnesium is linked to a younger brain age by about a year at age 55 than an intake of 350 mg per day, which is close to the daily intake. AVERAGE. This means that a 41% increase in magnesium intake could improve brain health, preserve cognitive abilities and reduce the risk of dementia. They also found that a high dietary intake of magnesium was more neuroprotective for women than for men, and for postmenopausal women than for premenopausal women.
They did, however, note that decreasing magnesium intake over time was linked to larger brain volumes in women. Associations between magnesium consumption and blood pressure measurements were mostly non-significant.
How magnesium reduces the risk of dementia
Magnesium is known to be a neuroprotectant and has positive effects on blood pressure. High blood pressure is itself a known risk factor for dementia. Increasing dietary magnesium intake may have positive effects on cardiovascular health, with the study subsequently showing a decrease in white matter damage in middle to early old age. As we age, we are susceptible to developing chronic diseases, such as kidney disease and vitamin D deficiency, which lead to magnesium deficiency. As magnesium deficiency can lead to decreased cellular messaging and increased inflammation in the brain, some studies have suggested that magnesium may be involved in the development of dementia and other neurological conditions.
The Effects of Magnesium on Women’s Health
The authors propose that the higher magnesium intake may have led to a decrease in chronic inflammation in these older women. These results should be considered preliminary at this time, especially for low magnesium intake subgroups. One of the interesting things about estrogen is that it is a vasodilator, which means it can help lower blood pressure, and postmenopausal women with lower estrogen levels can actually have higher blood pressure. This is shown by the increased cardiovascular risk of heart attack in women after menopause.
Should I take magnesium to prevent dementia?
As with all nutrients in the body, there is an ideal range and too much magnesium can be harmful to the body. High levels of magnesium can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, and even death. You must therefore be careful and consult your doctor before adding magnesium to your diet.
Further research using highly controlled experimental conditions and a study design that tracks people’s neurocognitive health over time is needed to investigate the potential neurological and cognitive benefits of a magnesium-rich diet. However, the study’s promising results highlight that there are several risk factors for dementia that individuals can identify and reduce by choosing a healthy lifestyle, including adopting heart-healthy eating habits, exercising, aerobic exercise as tolerated and engaging in cognitively and socially stimulating activities that they enjoy.