People who suffer two or more chronic health problems in middle age are more than twice as likely to develop dementia, according to research.
Illnesses including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, depression, liver disease, stroke and arthritis may affect the risk of mental decline.
The researchers said that inflammation in the body caused by the other conditions could be behind the effect, while the impact of drugs taken to control the illnesses might also play a role.
The study, published in the BMJ, found the risk was greater when the chronic condition developed in someone’s mid-50s rather than when they were diagnosed later. Having two or more conditions at age 55 raised someone’s risk of developing dementia almost two and
