(August 6, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Individuals who smoke, have high blood pressure, or have diabetes in middle age, especially early middle age, are far more likely to develop dementia later in life, according to research published in online ahead of print in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

Here is some information about dementia:

•    It is a condition in which there is a loss of intellectual functioning, such as memory, reasoning, and thinking

•    Those with dementia may also experience changes in personality, mood, or behavior

•    Alzheimer’s disease is a common form of dementia, but there may be as many as 50 other causes

Researchers from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis conducted physical exams and testing of cognitive functioning in over 11,000 individuals aged 46-70. The researchers then followed the participants through the end of 2004 to see which ones wound up in hospital with dementia.

Just over 200 of the participants were hospitalized for dementia during the follow-up period. The presence of smoking, high blood pressure, or diabetes in middle age were all strongly associated with being hospitalized with dementia later in life. The younger the individual was when these risk factors were identified, the stronger the association.

Today’s research highlights the need to make lifestyle modifications and undergo treatment early on in order to control smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Doing so could prevent or delay the onset of dementia.

For Insidermedicine In Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.