Posted on 12/01/2022 3:41:47 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Dementia impairs sufferers' ability to remember, is irreversible and there is a lack of effective treatments available. However, the effects of dietary sodium and potassium on cognitive function have not been explored in detail.
A group of researchers looked at the impact of dietary sodium, potassium, sodium to potassium ratio, and salt on the cognitive function of a group of elderly people in China.
The research team found that a high intake of sodium (> 5593.2 mg/day) and a high sodium to potassium ratio (> 3.8/day) increased the risk of memory impairment in the elderly. Conversely, higher levels of potassium intake (> 1653.3 mg/day) were associated with a higher cognitive score; the average cognitive test score (13.44 at baseline, total score was 27.00) increased by ~1 point when 1000 mg/day of sodium was replaced with an equal intake of potassium.
In addition, the researchers built on previous studies by demonstrating that the effects of dietary sodium, sodium to potassium ratio, and potassium on cognitive function have the potential to be mediated by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CCVD), while the link between salt and cognitive function can be mediated by sleep.
Although China has attempted to restrict salt and sodium in people's diets for over a decade, the population's intake remains alarmingly high, outstripping many other countries and the World Health Organization's recommendation of a maximum of 1400 mg/day of sodium for people aged 50—79 years and 5 g/day of salt. This high salt intake is commonly accompanied by insufficient consumption of potassium (1499.0 mg/day in this study vs. the Chinese recommended level of 3600 mg/day).
The study's results also confirm previous findings that dietary sodium to potassium ratio could provide a better measure of how these elements impact cognitive function, than looking at separate sodium or potassium values.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Don't give up salt completely. That could lead to serious problems with the heart.
Don't give up salt completely. That could lead to serious problems with the heart.
Too low potassium levels can bring on cardiac arrest. It can also cause mental confusion. I ended up in the hospital in early 2016. My electrolytes were all messed up. I’d been prescribed Hydrochlorothiazide and a potassium supplement for several years without any problems. My sodium, potassium, and magnesium levels were all too low, even with the potassium supplement. Once they got my numbers back to normal levels (3 1/2 days), they sent me home, and took me off both medications. One of the nurses told me that too much potassium was as bad as too little. They never did figure out what caused the problem.
Many years ago I worked with a guy whose wife had cut out salt completely, and she ended up in the hospital...almost died.
Just get an instapot. You don’t need all the processed food.
One of the docs I used to work with said “potassium sparing, my @ss”.
It was your BP med. As long as your kidneys are good the risk of high K is minimal.
The main things to watch with sodium are sauces like ketchup, bbq sauce, and soy sauce. Just 1 tablespoon packs a wallop.
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