AB blood group linked to memory loss and dementia

Is your blood type AB? You could be at a risk of developing dementia.

According to a recent study published in the journal Neurology, those who have AB blood group, the least common blood type, have increased likelihood of developing thinking and memory problems that later on lead to dementia. According to study author Mary Cushman from the University of Vermont, College of Medicine in Burlington blood type and risk of cognitive impairment has a connected link.
 

 The study was part of a larger study (Reasons for
Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke) that included more than 30,000 people followed for an average of 3.4 years. The findings showed that those with AB blood were 82 percent more likely to develop memory problems than others. ‘Blood type is also related to other vascular conditions like stroke, so the findings highlight the connections between vascular issues and brain health,’ Cushman added. 
People with AB blood type made up 6 percent of the group who developed cognitive impairment, which is higher than the 4 percent found in the population. The researchers also looked at levels of factor VIII, a protein that helps blood to clot. High levels of factor VIII are related to higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. People with AB blood had a higher average level of factor VIII than people with other blood types.

What is Dementia?
Dementia refers to a group of degenerative mental diseases in which there is a serious loss of cognitive function which goes beyond normal ageing. Symptoms include confusion, mood swings, long-term memory loss and a gradual loss of bodily functions. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It is caused due to plaque deposition in the brain’s neurons which affects its functioning and causes it to die. Why this happens is still not clear though research suggests it’s linked to genetic susceptibility and mental age. 

Here are a few of the early signs of Dementia:

Forgetfulness: The early signs of dementia usually set in as forgetfulness or subtle memory loss. Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between normal forgetfulness due to aging and development of dementia. However, this stage doesn’t always lead to the same. ‘One should be wary about it only when forgetfulness interferes with regular daily activities. It might seem okay to forget the car keys or to find it difficult to recollect the name of a known face once a while, but if it becomes so severe that it disrupts the normal proceedings of the day leading to impaired judgment, difficulty in doing simple calculations, recollecting recent conversations, it should be given due attention,’ says Siddhika. In other words, if forgetfulness sets in, in every aspect of a person’s life, it is warning enough to reach out to a neurologist or psychologist for a thorough assessment of cognitive functions

Mood swings: Symptoms of withdrawal are very common in people suffering from dementia, especially the ones who aren’t diagnosed with the same yet. ‘It is generally noticed that with declining brain function one might just give up activities that he enjoyed the most before the condition took hold of him,’ informs Siddhika. It can further lead to personality changes and make one averse to socializing and meeting new people. Such activities in fact can give rise to extreme mood changes.