Do intestinal diseases lead to dementia?

Are bowel diseases and dementia linked? A new study says yes! 

Chronic intestinal diseases are affecting more and more people worldwide. The main forms include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. 

It often affects young people between the ages of 15 and 30. Both diseases are a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

What are the main forms of chronic bowel disease? 

• Ulcerative colitis: In this form, the intestinal mucosa of the colon and rectum is affected. The inflammation begins in the innermost layer of the intestinal mucosa in the rectum and subsequently spreads to the remaining sections of the colon. Symptoms are usually bloody diarrhea and pain.
• Crohn's disease: In contrast to ulcerative colitis, all layers of the intestinal mucosa can be inflamed. In addition, this disease affects all sections of the digestive tract - from the mouth to the anus. However, the disease does not spread from one area, but rather appears in patches throughout the digestive tract. Symptoms also include severe abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Intestinal disease has a massive impact on physical and mental health and consequently on quality of life. Because of the connection via the gut-brain axis, the intestinal flora can have a decisive role on psychological and mental health. 

➤ In Germany alone, around 300,000 to 400,000 people suffer from chronic inflammatory bowel disease!

➤ Order probiotics now!

A new study brings clarity

In a Taiwanese observational study, patients with bowel disease were compared with healthy people and followed for up to 16 years. They were examined for their risk of dementia. The participating patients had either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease from the outset.

The result is clear. People with previous bowel disease have a significantly higher risk of dementia (5.5%) compared to people without symptoms (1.4%).

And not only that - the patients were found to develop symptoms of dementia comparatively earlier than the healthy comparison subjects. For example, the patients with bowel disease were diagnosed with dementia at an average age of 76, while the previously healthy patients were only diagnosed at 83. The study found no difference between the two bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease or gender.

The observational study suggests that there is a significant link between chronic bowel disease and the later development of dementia. 

➤ People with bowel disease are twice as likely to develop dementia as healthy people! 

What can you do for your gut health?

The exact causes of chronic bowel disease are not yet entirely clear. According to experts, however, diet could also play a role in addition to a predisposition.

Science provides the following findings on nutrition:

• Plant-based diet: A vegetarian diet is generally associated with lower inflammatory markers. As a healthy alternative to the Western diet, studies have shown that it can prevent a relapse of Crohn's disease and generally have a positive effect on the risk of inflammatory bowel disease. This includes fiber, including fruits and vegetables, and healthy fatty acids.
• Avoiding junk food: In a study conducted in 2015, scientists were able to link unhealthy junk food with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
• Avoid animal protein: Scientists suspect that the digestion of animal protein, such as from meat or milk, produces toxic metabolic products and can therefore damage the digestive tract. Furthermore, they could possibly disrupt the natural balance of the intestinal flora.
• Avoid sugar: Large amounts of added sugar are harmful to digestion and beneficial gut bacteria. According to studies, sweets are associated with a higher risk of intestinal diseases.  

You should also avoid alcohol, nicotine, stress or certain medications, as these can damage the intestines.

Natural help for your intestinal tract:

In addition to an adapted diet, you can do even more for a healthy gut. There are many food supplements that support your intestinal flora and intestinal mucosa.

These include:

• Probiotics and prebiotics: The combination has a particularly beneficial effect on the intestinal flora and our digestive tract. Taking probiotics can help to increase the number of healthy bacteria in a stressed gut and thus support a well-functioning digestive system. Studies have shown that probiotics can be useful in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, for example.
• Omega 3: Omega 3 fatty acids are associated with a lower risk of inflammatory bowel disease. The fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect and help to maintain the integrity of the intestinal wall. According to experts, omega 3 has a positive effect on the beneficial microorganisms in the gut. In addition to the intestinal flora, omega 3 (especially DHA) also has a positive effect on our brain. According to studies, the fatty acids even help to prevent and combat dementia.  
• Intestinal cleansing capsules: With the help of intestinal cleansing capsules with psyllium husks, the entire digestive system can be thoroughly cleansed, detoxified and the healing process of the intestinal mucosa stimulated. In chronic intestinal diseases, the intestinal mucosa is severely impaired and damaged. Psyllium seeds can provide relief here, as they contain mucilage and thus support the intestinal mucosa.
• Zinc: The trace element is said to have a positive effect on the intestinal mucosa as well as the immune system. According to studies, zinc strengthens the intestinal mucosa in patients with Crohn's disease. 

Conclusion:

Intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are becoming increasingly common in today's society and have a massive impact on quality of life. In addition to many complaints such as pain, diarrhea, nausea and more, they are also associated with a higher risk of dementia, according to new studies. However, the exact causes of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis are still largely unknown and there is currently no cure. Nevertheless, there are things you can do to support your intestinal health and thus reduce your well-being and your own risk of dementia.

Take control of your gut health and therefore your risk of dementia today!

 

Sources (in English): 

Chiba, M., Nakane, K., Takayama, Y., Sugawara, K., Ohno, H., Ishii, H., Tsuda, S., Tsuji, T., Komatsu, M., & Sugawara, T. (2016). Development and Application of a Plant-Based Diet Scoring System for Japanese Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The Permanente journal, 20(4), 16–019. doi: 10.7812/TPP/16-019

Chiba, M., Nakane, K., Takayama, Y., Sugawara, K., Ohno, H., Ishii, H., Tsuda, S., Tsuji, T., Komatsu, M., & Sugawara, T. (2016). Development and Application of a Plant-Based Diet Scoring System for Japanese Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The Permanente journal, 20(4), 16–019. doi: 10.7812/TPP/16-019