Gout Sufferers Could Be Less Likely To Develop Alzheimer's, Study Finds
Suffering Gout Could Make You Less Likely To Develop Alzheimer's
PA / The Huffington Post UK
People who suffer from gout could be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, a study has found.
Those with a history of the condition, which is known as being the disease of kings due to Henry VIII suffering from it, have a 24% lower risk of developing Azheimer's.
Scientists believe that gout has a protective effect on the brain, which could be due to an excess of uric acid which builds up during a gout attack.
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The study was carried out in the United States but analysed people in the UK by looking at The Health Improvement Network (THIN), an electronic database from GPs' surgeries around the country.
Researchers looked at at 3.7 million people aged 40 and over but excluded anyone already diagnosed with gout or any dementia.
Analysis was carried out of Alzheimer's disease amongst adults with gout compared with up to five without it, matched by age, date of study entry, enrollment year and body mass index (BMI) using THIN data.
Overall, the researchers identified 309 new cases of Alzheimer's disease among 59,224 patients with gout, and 1,942 cases among 238,805 people in their comparison group over an average five-year follow up.
They found there was a 24% lower risk of Alzheimer's amongst people with a history of gout, after taking into account age, sex, BMI, socio-economic status, lifestyle factors, prior heart conditions and use of heart drugs.
The report concluded: "Our findings provide the first population-based evidence for the potential protective effect of gout on the risk of AD (Alzheimers' disease) and support the purported neuroprotective role of uric acid.
"If confirmed by future studies, a therapeutic investigation that has been employed to prevent progression of PD (Parkinson's disease) may be warranted for this relatively common and devastating condition."
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10 Symptoms For Alzheimer's
Misplacing things (01 of16)
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People with Alzheimer's may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and also accuse others of stealing. This may become more and more frequent. (credit:Cavan Images via Getty Images)
Finding it difficult to complete home tasks (02 of16)
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The Alzheimer's Association says that people who have the illness will find it difficult to complete daily tasks - this could range from cleaning to forgetting the rules of a game played regularly. (credit:Alexandra Grablewski via Getty Images)
Confusion with time or places.(03 of16)
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The Alzheimer's Association says that people who have the condition can lose track of time, dates and seasons.Sufferers may have trouble understanding things if they are not happening promptly. They may also lose track of where they are and how they got there. (credit:mediaphotos via Getty Images)
Problems with speaking or writing (04 of16)
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According to the Alzheimer's Association, people suffering from this type of dementia may find it difficult joining a conversation - they may also stop in the middle of conversations and don't know how to start againWriting coherently can also be a problem. (credit:Nick Dolding via Getty Images)
Finding it hard to read and understand visual images.(05 of16)
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The Alzheimer's Association claim that people may find it hard to read or understand certain images if suffering from the disease. They also may find it difficult to determine colour or contrast, which may stop them from driving. (credit:Rob Lewine via Getty Images)
Solving problems.(06 of16)
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Sufferers may feel changes in their ability to follow a plan or work with numbers. They'll probably have trouble following a basic recipe, or keeping track of monthly bills.They might find it difficult to concentrate and take much longer to do things than they did before.Source: Alzheimer's Association (credit:Martin Barraud via Getty Images)
Withdrawel from social activities.(07 of16)
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Someone with Alzheimer's may remove themselves from certain hobbies/interests and social activities. (credit:Ryan McVay via Getty Images)
Memory Loss (08 of16)
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According to the Alzheimer's Association, one of the most seen symptoms is memory loss (especially recently processed info). For example: forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over again and needing memory aides( electronic reminders). (credit:Simon Winnall via Getty Images)
Mood changes.(09 of16)
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The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's disease can change, they can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. Source: Alzheimer's Association (credit:ONOKY - Eric Audras via Getty Images)
Decreased or poor judgment.(10 of16)
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People with Alzheimer's may have poor judgment. This can include confusion over how much money they should spend.They may also pay less attention to grooming, and cleaning themselves regularly.Source: Alzheimer's Association (credit:Martin Moos via Getty Images)
Tips for Staying In Touch With Alzheimer's Sufferers(11 of16)
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Best not call after dark(12 of16)
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Many people with Alzheimer’s experience sundowning, or increased confusion and anxiety as evening approaches. For the best chance at communicating, call between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, recommends Lori Fleming, cognitive educator at Friends Fellowship Community in Richmond, Ind. “The evenings and early mornings are not good because their minds get wired up throughout the evening and, occasionally, it causes people with sundowners to kind of stay up really late,” says Fleming. (credit:Shutterstock)
But absolutely make the call(13 of16)
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Regular communication is the most crucial and valuable component in keeping the relationship ongoing and strong. During conversations, keep the sentences and dialogue short and simple. Keep the call itself short, too. “Little two-, three- and four-minute phone calls are probably better than 15-minute phone calls,” says Angela Lunde, dementia education specialist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. (credit:Shutterstock)
Who is this?(14 of16)
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Don’t pressure the loved one with Alzheimer’s to recognize you. Simply say who you are and why you’re calling. You might be tempted to ask the Alzheimer’s sufferer if they know with whom they’re speaking. Don’t. This question can cause discomfort and anxiety. If they don’t make the connection, just continue talking to them. (credit:Shutterstock)
No harm in a little lie(15 of16)
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Family members will often notice that their relative suffering from Alzheimer’s is saying things that obviously aren’t grounded in reality. Don’t correct them. "In Grandpa’s eyes, it’s his life, his story, and that’s his reality in that moment,” explains Lunde. Going along with the incorrect stories isn’t contributing to “Grandpa’s” delusions or supporting his “lies.” In her support groups, Lunde doesn’t use the word “lying;” instead, she and the group members call it “therapeutical fibbing.” (credit:Shutterstock)
Letters are touchable memories(16 of16)
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Long-distance family members shouldn’t overlook snail mail. Loved ones with Alzheimer’s respond extremely well to letters and cards because they can read and look at them every day. “They’re a constant reminder that they have a connection to somebody, and that’s what I think makes it probably even more valuable than a phone call,” says Lunde. (credit:Shutterstock)
Last year it emerged that the number of people suffering from gout is on the rise, with hospital admissions for the painful condition rising by a fifth over the last five years in England.
Associated with a diet rich in purines such as red meat, seafood and beer, the most common symptom is a sudden and severe pain in the joint along with swelling and redness.
Men are most commonly affected, and other factors that increase a person's risk include their age, being overweight or obese or having high blood pressure or diabetes.