LEG UP
The common leg problem suffered by millions of Brits that could raise dementia risk by 23%, scientists warn
Treating the condition could cut the risk of vascular dementia by 43 per cent, scientists said
A COMMON leg problem affecting millions of Brits could raise people's risk of developing dementia by 23 per cent, scientists warn.
The condition could indicate poor blood flow around the body, a common risk factor of memory-robbing dementia, they said.
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Varicose veins - swollen, twisted veins that bulge out of the legs - affect at least a third of people in the UK, .
Korean researchers combing through the data of almost half a million people found that those with the leg condition were 23.5 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with dementia.
The risk was especially high in men and people who smoked or drank heavily, the study - published to the journal - showed.
Varicose veins happen when the valves that control the blood flow to veins don't work properly, causing blood to build up and put pressure on the vein, which makes it swell and twist.
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They're more common in people who are older, overweight, pregnant, or spend lots of time sitting or standing.
"There is growing interest in the function of veins and their relationship with neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia," researchers from the Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Seoul wrote.
Previous studies showed that the vein condition is linked to organ damage - including changes to the white matter in the brain - as well "increased inflammation, potentially triggering neuroinflammatory pathways linked to dementia and vascular cognitive impairment".
"Given these potential mechanisms, further investigation into the association between varicose veins and dementia could provide new insights for dementia prevention and management," researchers added.
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For their study, they analysed health data from 396,767 men and women in Korea with an average age of 56.
Just over one per cent of them - amounting to 5,000 of the participants - had varicose veins.
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Their health outcomes were tracked for an average of 13 years. By that time, 14 per cent of them had been diagnosed with dementia.
Researchers found that people who had varicose veins were at higher risk of the memory-robbing condition.
But patients who had their veins treated were 43 per cent less likely to suffer from vascular dementia compared to those who didn't undergo treatment.
Vascular dementia is a common type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.
What are varicose veins and how are they treated?
Varicose veins are widened veins that look swollen and twisted under the skin.
They usually appear on the legs and may feel lumpy and bulge out of the skin.
They sometimes cause other symptoms that affect your legs, such as:
- Pain, aching or a feeling of heaviness
- Skin changes, such as itching, colour changes or dry, scaly skin
- Swollen ankles or legs
The symptoms may be worse after standing for a long time, and may get better when you rest with your legs up.
Varicose veins may get worse without treatment, but this usually happens very slowly over several years.
They don't always need treatment, but a GP may refer you for specialist tests if you have pain, heaviness, swollen legs, itching or skin changes or any complications, such as ulcers on your legs.
There are several types of treatment that may be offered, including:
- Procedures to block blood flow in the veins, such as endothermal ablation and foam sclerotherapy
- Surgery to remove varicose veins
- Compression stockings
Treatment to improve how varicose veins look is not usually available on the NHS if they're not causing any other problems. You may be able to pay for it privately.
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It's estimated to affect around 180,000 people in the UK.
Varicose veins can get slowly worse over time but they don't always need treatment, unless they cause symptoms such as pain, heaviness, swollen legs, itching or skin changes, or complications such as ulcers.
"In conclusion, our study suggests that the presence of varicose veins may be associated with an increased risk of future all-cause dementia," the research team said.
They noted their research had several limitations.
Firstly, they couldn't prove that varicose veins were the cause of dementia, only that the two are linked, as their study was observation it was observational.
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Secondly, the data the scientists used only recorded the presence of varicose veins among patients, not how severe their condition was.
The authors suggested assessing if patients with worse veins have a greater risk of dementia in future research.
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