Chronic Correlates

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!

Diabetes and Cholesterol and Blood Pressure, oh my!

There are data showing a relationship between chronic diseases, their symptoms, and cognitive abilities. However, it is important to remember that high glucose (for diabetics), high cholesterol, and high blood pressure are exactly that … symptoms of other problems.

They are effects, not causes.

Thus, in research trials, esearchers lower the symptoms of a disease and don’t see an effect in the disease itself. This most recently happened when researchers lowered homocystein (a marker for heart disease) with medication, but saw zero change (zero, null, 0, nothing) in the rate of heart disease. They scratch their heads.

But the reason the symptom is high (for homocystein, for example), is because the patients are not eating healthfully. But handling the symptoms without handling the problem is a little like continually sponging up the overflow without just turning off the tap.

Yes, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high homocysteine are associated with cognitive decline and demintia. But these are symptoms whose source runs back to food selection, eating behaviors, and a life out of balance.

Handle the symptoms. Find the tap and turn it off.