Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that low blood sodium levels—especially in older men—may be a risk factor for cognitive decline.
Hyponatremia and Cognitive Decline
In the new study, researchers analyzed the data from 5,435 healthy men over the age of 65 to see if low blood sodium levels, known as hyponatremia, were contributing to cognitive decline. The health of the men, including sodium levels, were followed for an average of 4.6 years.
They found that men with sodium levels that were 126-140 mmol/L were 30% more likely to display cognitive impairment when the study started. These men were also 37% more likely to display symptoms of cognitive decline over time compared to men with slightly higher sodium levels (141-142 mmol/L).
It’s important to note that men with even higher sodium levels (143-153 mmol/L) also showed signs of cognitive decline over time.
According to the lead study author, Kristen Nowak, Ph.D., there’s a concern about low sodium levels going unnoticed in clinical practice, perhaps because many doctors focus on looking only at high sodium levels.
“Because both slightly lower serum sodium levels and mild changes in cognitive function are common occurrences with advancing age, future research on this topic is important,” she says, “including determining whether correcting lower sodium levels affects cognitive function.”
Other studies on low sodium levels
Although other studies have linked severe cases of hyponatremia with cognitive and neurological issues, none had focused on how different sodium levels in the blood affect cognitive decline in older men.
A 2010 study published on MedicalNewsToday.com found that low sodium levels in the blood appeared to be responsible for increased rates of fractures and falls in older adults. But it’s interesting to note that the same study found that hyponatremia didn’t appear to affect the risk of osteoporosis.
