Cardiovascular risk factors in midlife strongly linked to risk of dementia

[Guest guest]

Colleagues, the following is FYI and does not necessarily reflect my own

opinion. I have no further knowledge of the topic.

------------------------

Public release date: 24-Jan-2005

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-01/aaon-crf011905.php

Contact: Marilee Reu

mreu@...

American Academy of Neurology

Cardiovascular risk factors in midlife strongly linked to risk of dementia

ST. PAUL, Minn. – High cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking

have long been considered and treated as risk factors for cardiovascular

disease. A new study has concluded that these same cardiovascular (CV)

risk factors in middle age may also increase significantly the risk of

dementia in old age. The study of nearly 9,000 northern Californians is

published in the January 25 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal

of the American Academy of Neurology.

Each of these four CV risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, high

cholesterol, and smoking) identified at midlife (age 40 to 44) was

associated with a 20 to 40 percent increased risk of dementia in later

life. Compared to those with no risk factors, those with two of the risk

factors were 70 percent (or .7 times) more likely to be diagnosed with

dementia; those with three were more than twice as likely; while

individuals unfortunate enough to have all four risk factors had a 237

percent (or 2.37 times) greater risk of being diagnosed with dementia.

Correspondingly, treating one's risk factors for heart disease may also

reduce the risk for dementia. Earlier treatment may have an even greater

benefit by virtue of the cumulative effect of longer exposure to

protective therapies.

By risk factor, those with diabetes were 46 percent more likely to

develop dementia. Participants with high total cholesterol were 42

percent more likely. Those with hypertension (high blood pressure) were

24 percent more likely. Participants who reported ever smoking at

midlife were 26 percent more likely to develop dementia. The effects of

CV risk factors on prevalence of dementia were not significantly

different among race or gender subgroups.

While previous studies have reported an association between individual

CV risk factors and dementia, whether these risk factors in midlife are

prospectively associated with risk of dementia in older age had not been

thoroughly investigated.

" The real strength of our study is the large, multiethnic cohort of men

and women, followed up for 27 years, all with equal access to medical

care, " said study author Whitmer, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente

Division of Research in Oakland, Calif.

###

This study was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

--

ne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar@... >

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/