COPD patients are twice as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment and memory loss: Study

COPD patients are twice as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment and memory loss. The researchers looked at nearly 2,000 people aged 70 to 89. Of the participants, 1,600 were cognitively normal and 317 had mild cognitive impairment. Overall, 288 had COPD. It turned out that COPD patients were almost twice as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the risk was higher among those who have had the lung disease for a long time.

First author Balwinder Singh said, “COPD is reversible in early stages, especially in smokers. These findings are important because they highlight the importance of COPD as a potential risk factor for MCI and will hopefully lead to early intervention to prevent incidence or progression.”

If MCI progresses or left untreated, it can lead to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

COPD is a group of lung diseases associated with blocked airflow and complicated breathing.

Tips to keep your lungs healthy as you age

The best thing you can do to keep your lungs healthy as you age is stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. If you’re not a smoker – congrats! You’ve already managed to protect your lungs in so many ways.

Other tips include exercising regularly, avoiding heavy drinking, avoiding heavily polluted areas, staying well hydrated, preventing pneumonia and bronchitis, treating asthma, improving indoor air quality with humidifiers, changing air filters often, managing allergies and being aware of one’s allergens, eating well, and wearing a mask when using harsh cleaning chemicals.

By following these tips, you can have greater success in protecting your lungs as you age so you can continue to breathe clearly.