Dementia Links Three Vascular Health Issues to Boosted Risk Factor
Keeping your cardiovascular system healthy is crucial, and there are several ways to do so. Avoiding smoking, keeping your blood pressure in check, staying active, eating a balanced diet, and keeping your cholesterol levels down are all essential steps.
A recent study published in a reputable journal has found a link between certain midlife vascular risk factors - specifically high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking - and the risk of developing dementia.
Researchers studied over 7,700 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, which ran from 1987-2020 with a 33-year follow-up. Measurements of participant risk factors were taken at ages 45-54, 55-64, and 65-74 years old.
Focusing on three main vascular risk factors - high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking - the study found that between 22-44% of dementia cases reported by participants by age 80 were attributable to midlife and late-life vascular risk factors.
Female and Black participants, as well as non-carriers of the APOE ε4 gene, showed higher vascular risk factor attributable risks. This suggests that interventions for vascular factors beginning as early as midlife could potentially avert a significant portion of dementia risk.
It's worth noting that chronic vascular problems can lead to ischemia (lack of oxygen) in the brain, silent strokes, microinfarcts, inflammation, free radical damage, and neurodegeneration. All of which can impair cognitive function and increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The study reinforces the idea that vascular health is brain health. By maintaining optimal vascular health, you can reduce the risk of dementia significantly. It's essential to prioritize vascular health not just for the heart but for the brain as well, especially starting from midlife.
Midlife high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking are strongly associated with increased dementia risk decades later. These vascular risk factors account for up to nearly half of dementia cases by age 80, emphasizing the importance of early and sustained vascular health management. The impact of these risk factors on dementia risk varies by genetic makeup (APOE ε4 status), race (notably higher in Black individuals), and sex (higher in females), pointing to the need for tailored prevention efforts.
- The link between midlife vascular risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking has been found to increase the risk of developing dementia in latter years.
- Maintaining a balanced diet, staying active, and keeping blood pressure in check are essential steps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
- A recent scientific study on the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study participants found that up to half of dementia cases by age 80 are attributable to midlife vascular risk factors.
- Vascular health is closely linked to brain health, and by maintaining optimal vascular health, you can significantly reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
- Early intervention for vascular factors, starting in midlife, could potentially avert a significant portion of dementia risk, especially for those who are female, Black, or non-carriers of the APOE ε4 gene.
- In addition to heart health, focusing on vascular health is crucial for promoting mental health and cognitive function, as chronic vascular problems can lead to brain-related issues such as ischemia, silent strokes, and neurodegeneration.
- Nutrition, fitness and exercise, and mental health all play a role in maintaining cardiovascular-health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases and dementia.
- CBD, a compound found in cannabis plants, may have potential benefits for cardiovascular health and mental health, although more scientific research is needed to confirm its efficacy.
