Treating high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes may lower risk of Alzheimer's disease

May, 2011

New findings reveal that mild cognitive impairment is more likely to develop into Alzheimer’s if vascular risk factors are present, especially if untreated.

A study following 837 people with MCI, of whom 414 (49.5%) had at least one vascular risk factor, has found that those with risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease and high cholesterol were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Over five years, 52% of those with risk factors developed Alzheimer's, compared to 36% of those with no risk factors In total, 298 people (35.6%) developed Alzheimer's.

However, of those with vascular risk factors, those receiving full treatment for their vascular problems were 39% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those receiving no treatment, and those receiving some treatments were 26% less likely to develop the disease.

Treatment of risk factors included using high blood pressure medicines, insulin, cholesterol-lowering drugs and diet control. Smoking and drinking were considered treated if the person stopped smoking or drinking at the start of the study.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-04/aaon-thb040511.php

Reference:

[2256] Li, J., Wang Y. J., Zhang M., Xu Z. Q., Gao C. Y., Fang C. Q., et al.
(2011). Vascular risk factors promote conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer disease.
Neurology. 76(17), 1485 - 1491.

seniors

Diet

Related News

Alzheimer's memory problems originate with oligomers not plaques

While everyone agrees that amyloid-beta protein is part of the problem, not everyone agrees that amyloid plaques are the cause (or one of them) of Alzheimer’s. Other forms of amyloid-beta have been pointed to, including floating clumps called oligomers or ADDLs.

More evidence for benefits of Rapamycin

A few months ago, I reported on an exciting finding that

New guideline on when people with Alzheimer's disease should stop driving

The American Academy of Neurology has updated its guidelines on when people with dementia should stop driving.

New gene associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's

Another gene has been identified that appears to increase risk of Alzheimer’s. The gene, MTHFD1L, is located on chromosome six.

Losing muscle mass early sign of Alzheimer’s

Previous research has found that unexplained weight loss is an early sign of Alzheimer's.

Memory problems not the only predictor of later mild cognitive impairment

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment often leads to Alzheimer's disease, but what predicts aMCI?

Apple juice improves behavior in Alzheimer's patients

A pilot study involving 21 institutionalized individuals with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s found that, although drinking two 4-oz glasses of apple juice daily for a month produced no change in the Dementia Rating Scale or in the Activities of Daily Living measure, there was a significant (27%)

TMS improves language comprehension in Alzheimer's sufferers

A pilot study involving 10 patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease, of whom half were randomly assigned to the treatment, has found that two weeks of receiving daily (25 minute) periods of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to the prefrontal

Common Alzheimer's medication helps skills necessary for safe driving

A study involving outpatients with early stage Alzheimer’s found that their performance on some computerized tests of executive function and visual attention, including a simulated driving task, improved significantly after three months of taking

Cognitive ability, not age, predicts risky decisions

A study involving 54 older adults (66-76) and 58 younger adults (18-35) challenges the idea that age itself causes people to become more risk-averse and to make poorer decisions.

Pages