Contents:
- Medical Video: Concussion / Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Metabolic syndrome causes a decrease in brain function according to the study
- How to prevent metabolic syndrome?
Medical Video: Concussion / Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Metabolic syndrome is a collection of conditions including increased blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels in the body and excess fat around the waist that occurs simultaneously. This syndrome results in fatal risks, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and decreased brain function.
Changes in blood pressure, cholesterol, and also blood sugar do affect blood vessels, heart and insulin. However, why can metabolic syndrome cause a decrease in brain function? Consider the following review.
Metabolic syndrome causes a decrease in brain function according to the study
A study published in Pediatrics found that the metabolic syndrome affects cognitive abilities in adolescents. A total of 49 adolescents without metabolic syndrome and 64 adolescents with metabolic syndrome who had only three symptoms of metabolic syndrome performed self-ability tests. These tests include psychomotor abilities, memory, understanding, and concentration.
The results show that adolescents with metabolic syndrome score lower on mental ability tests, reading, and counting. Then, the results of the adolescent MRI showed a change in the brain, namely reduced volume of the hippocampus agian part of the cerebrum located in the frontal lobe (front) which plays a role for memory storage. That is why people who have metabolic syndrome, the ability of brain function will gradually decrease.
Then other studies were carried out, but more focused on older adults. Quoted from Reuter, a study conducted in Singapore observed more than 1,500 people. As a result, 141 participants developed mild cognitive impairment namely 14 percent in people with metabolic syndrome and 8 percent in people who did not have it.
From these studies show that adults with metabolic syndrome have a greater risk of decreased brain function so that they are susceptible to disorders of the brain, such as dementia, Alzheimer's, and others.
In addition to reducing the volume of the hippocampus, the metabolic syndrome can cause blood sugar levels to rise. This condition also has the potential to interfere with brain function to work properly. Because the brain needs glucose to work normally. Brain functions include thinking, learning, and remembering. When glucose levels are not normal, it is likely that the brain's ability to think, learn, or remember does not work well.
How to prevent metabolic syndrome?
People who are very at risk of developing the metabolic syndrome are people with central obesity, which is a buildup of fat in the abdomen (distended stomach). So, the key to preventing metabolic syndrome can be done by applying the principle of healthy living. Consume healthy and nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to suit your needs.
Make sure the body is always active, for example by exercising regularly. This activity can control body weight and maintain overall body health, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, and stress.
Then, make sure also enough time for rest and sleep. Don't forget to do a regular health check-up with your doctor. With this, diagnosing any disease including metabolic syndrome can be detected early and treatment can be done more quickly so that complications of the disease can be avoided.
