Is your blood type AB? If your answer is yes then you might have a bigger chance of getting dementia or memory loss as you grow older.
A recent study that was published by the American Association of Neurology found that your blood type plays a role on memory loss later in life. People with the rare blood type AB are at a higher risk with memory issues compared to people with other blood types.
An estimated four percent of the American population are with blood type AB.
The study was done over a three year period with more than 30,000 participants, making adjustments for differences in gender, age and geographical location. It showed that the participants who had blood type AB were 82 percent more like to have memory loss or impaired thinking skills compared to people with blood type O.
Another study early this year also revealed that the same blood type AB is linked to a higher chance of stroke. Heart attacks can occur if the blood forms clots too easily. In the study, about 20 percent of the association between blood type AB and memory loss might be explained by the higher levels of factor VIII, which the body forms clotting easily.
University of Vermont College of Medicine professor of Hematology, Dr. Mary Cushman, is the senior researcher of this study. According to Cushman, "People who have blood type AB should not be overly worried about these findings." She added that it was just a small association and more research is needed to confirm these results. Environmental factor and other circumstances still play a huge part on the risk of memory loss.
This does not mean that other blood types are not susceptible to getting dementia in the future. To prevent memory loss, one should still aim to have a healthy lifestyle. Exercising your brain is a good tool as it makes it stay cognitively active. It is important to get a balanced diet and exercise.
