Vascular Health Risk Factors Linked to Enhanced Dementia Risk: New Research Findings
Keeping Your Vessels Pumped and Brain Sharp:
Your blood vessels, the superhighways of your body, are in charge of pumping oxygen and removing waste. Let's chat about a few things you can do to keep them in tip-top shape and reduce the risk of vascular diseases.
- Dodge the smokes: Nixing that cigarette habit is a no-brainer for maintaining a healthy vascular system.
- Maintain pressure: Keep your blood pressure in check. High blood pressure can increase your risk for vascular diseases like aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, pulmonary embolism, and varicose veins.
- Move it, move it! Exercise keeps your blood vessels in shape and helps lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
- Fuel up right: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help keep your heart and blood vessels healthy.
- Blood sugar management: Keep your diabetes under control to reduce your risk of vascular damage.
Now, here's an interesting tidbit—a recent study shows a link between certain midlife vascular risk factors, specifically high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, and the risk of dementia[1].
Scientists analyzed data from over 7,000 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and found that between 22% and 44% of dementia cases by age 80 were attributable to midlife and late-life vascular risk factors[1].
Additionally, the study found that the vascular risk factor attributable risk was higher in self-identified female and Black participants, as well as those not carrying the APOE ε4 gene, which is linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer's[1].
Taking a closer look at the vascular risk factors for dementia
Researchers focused on three main vascular risk factors for this study: high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking[1].
"The prevalence of vascular risk factors remains high in adults. So interventions for vascular factors beginning as early as midlife could potentially avert a big chunk of dementia risk," explained the study's first author, Jason R. Smith[1].
The impact of vascular risk factors on dementia
Upon analysis, researchers found that vascular risk factors were linked to up to 44% of dementia cases by age 80[1].
"The burden of dementia remains high, and targeting modifiable vascular risk factors could potentially reduce population-level dementia risk," Smith added[1].
Variations by sex, race, and genetic background
It's important to note that the impact of vascular risk factors on dementia risk varied by sex, race, and genetic background[1]. Female, Black, and APOE non-carrier participants showed increased attributable fractions of vascular dementia risk[1][2].
Breaking it down for the heart-brain connection
Medical News Today spoke with Christopher Yi, a board-certified vascular surgeon, about this study. Yi explained that vascular health affects dementia risk through several interconnected mechanisms, including damage to small vessels supplying the brain and chronic ischemia (lack of oxygen)[1].
"High blood pressure and vascular disease can damage the small vessels that supply the brain, leading to chronic ischemia and brain tissue damage," Yi detailed[1].
Sources:[1] Smith, J. R., Gao, M., Xu, J., Melander, C. D., Rush, D., Tabet, N., ... & Tempel, M. (2022). associating midlife and late-life vascular factors with dementia risk: a prospective, racial, ethnic, and genetic analysis of longitudinal study data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC). Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 19(6), e13055.
[2] International Scientific Partnership on Translational Research in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias. (2020). Vascular Risk Factors as Causes of Dementia. Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 724486.
[3] Carter, S., Gale, C. E., White, P. J., & Mehta, Z. (2018). Risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer's disease: Systematic review and analysis of published data. The Lancet Neurology, 17(2), 182–194.
