Calcium Supplements Could Increase Dementia Risks In Some Women

Older women suffering from certain medical ailments could be at an increased risk of developing dementia if they take calcium supplements regularly, as per a new study.

Researchers were able to find that women who experienced a stroke earlier and continued taking calcium supplements could be seven times at a higher risk of suffering from dementia in a period of 5 years as compared to those women who had strokes but didn't consume calcium supplements.

Along with this, the researchers were able to determine that women having any symptoms related to a disorder that is known to affect flow of blood to the brain and consumed calcium supplements had a double chance of developing dementia in five years as compared to those who had the disorder but did not consume supplements.

The study is able to show a link between the two variables, but cannot prove that consuming calcium supplements could directly cause dementia, according to Dr. Silke Kern from the University of Gothenburg located in Sweden, co-author of the study. There is a need for more rigorous research before making any recommendations to women regarding the intake of calcium supplements, added Kern.

The researchers of the study looked through the medical history of about 700 women with their ages ranging from 70 years to 92 years who were not suffering from dementia in the beginning of the study. The participants were questioned regarding their calcium supplement usage. Consecutively, their thinking and memory skills were tested. About 447 participants also had their brains scanned.

The researchers were able to find that about 54 women experienced a stroke even before the study began, and about 98 participants were consuming calcium supplements from the beginning of the study.

71 percent of women who had their brains scanned had lesions present in the white matter of their brain, a marker for having cerebrovascular disease, a cluster of disorders that are known for affecting flow of blood to the brain.

All the women were followed for a period of 5 years. The results were able to show that about 59 participants had developed dementia, and about 54 of them had a stroke encounter during the time period, as per the findings. They were published in a journal called Neurology on 17th of August.

The researchers tried to look into the association shared between calcium supplements and risk of having dementia, and the results showed that the risk is higher, but only in case of those participants who suffered from symptoms related to cerebrovascular disease in the beginning of the study or had a past history of stroke.

The researchers mentioned that they were not completely sure regarding calcium supplements and its use with respect to greater risk of developing dementia among women suffering from other types of conditions. Further research incorporating more participants is necessary in that case.

It was concluded that dietary supplements, especially calcium supplements, taken in high quantities could result in several deleterious effects among people suffering from cerebrovascular disease or with a history of stroke.