Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Is Associated with Cognitive Decline Later in Life

Individuals with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) demonstrate an increase in cognitive decline, including a rise in the typical markers of Alzheimer disease, according to the results of a recent study.

Furthermore, monitoring and controlling for CVD may be critical to maintaining and improving cognitive health later in life.¹ The study results showed that a higher CVD risk burden was associated with an increased rate of decline in episodic memory, perceptual speed, and working memory.¹

“In the absence of effective treatments for dementia, we need to monitor and control cardiovascular risk burden as a way to maintain patients’ cognitive health as they age,” Weili Xu, PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China, said in a statement. “Given the progressive increase in the number of dementia cases worldwide, our findings have both clinical and public health relevance.”²

REFERENCES

• Song R, Xu H, Dintica CS, et al. Associations between cardiovascular risk, structural brain changes, and cognitive decline. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;75(20):2525-2534. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.03.053
• Maintaining heart health may protect against cognitive decline. ScienceDaily. May 18, 2020. Accessed July 23, 2020. sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200518144842.htm