Dementia threatens millions of people around the world, especially as some studies indicate that its incidence is set to triple by 2050, so researchers are racing to find a cure for the disease, but for now, prevention remains the first resort.
A study issued by the University of Gothenburg in Sweden revealed that there is one supplement that can double the risk of dementia among women, especially that many of us accept nutritional supplements and vitamins to protect against infections, boost the immune system, and ward off bone weakness in some cases.
The researchers pointed out that calcium supplements may increase the risk of dementia in some women, as a large number of them accept it after menopause to strengthen their bones, but in recent years, the mineral has been subject to scrutiny, as the analysis relied on data from a sample of 700 women ranging from Their ages ranged from 70 to 92, and none of them had dementia.
At the start of the study, the women’s memory and thinking skills were assessed and they underwent a series of computerized tomography (CT) scans. During the study period, some of the participants had strokes and some developed dementia..
Computed tomography scans revealed that 71 percent of the women had lesions in the brain, a sign of cerebrovascular disease, which makes them more likely to develop dementia, as a result of taking calcium supplements.
The results also revealed that women who took calcium supplements were twice as likely to develop dementia than those who did not take the supplements, and the researchers also found that the increased risk was only among women with cerebrovascular disease. Seven times more likely to develop dementia than others.
Many women accept calcium supplements to strengthen their bones after menopause, especially since osteoporosis is a common problem in the elderly, who suffer from calcium deficiency, and these results come in the wake of a series of studies that highlight the dangerous link with minerals and many diseases.
