Vascular health linked to dementia risk

  • A large study found a better cardiovascular health score was linked to a lower dementia risk and slower rates of cognitive decline, with both aspects reducing with each positive factor.
  • A large, long-running study found that higher systolic blood pressure at age 50 was linked to a greater risk of developing dementia, even when below the threshold for hypertension.
  • A large study reports that aggressive lowering of systolic blood pressure reduced the risk of MCI and dementia.
  • A long-running study found that older adults with high levels of arterial stiffness were more likely to develop dementia during the next 15 years.
  • Hypertensive rats exhibited larger ventricles, decreased brain volume, and impaired fluid transport in the brain possibly linked to impaired clearance of amyloid proteins.

Optimal levels of cardiovascular health in older age associated with lower dementia risk

A French study involving 6,626 older adults (65+) found that having optimal levels in more measures of cardiovascular health (nonsmoking, weight, diet, physical activity, cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure) was associated with lower dementia risk and slower rates of cognitive decline. Dementia risk and rates of cognitive decline lowered with each additional metric at the recommended optimal level.

The measures come from an American Heart Association seven-item checklist aimed at preventing cardiovascular disease.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-08/jn-hol081618.php

Dementia risk increased in 50-year-olds with blood pressure below hypertension threshold

New findings from the large, long-running Whitehall II study revealed that 50-year-olds who had blood pressure that was higher than normal but still below the usual threshold for treating hypertension, were at increased risk of developing dementia in later life.

This increased risk was seen even when they didn’t have other heart or blood vessel-related problems.

The study involved 8,639 people, of whom 32.5% were women. Participants were aged between 35-55 in 1985, and had their blood pressure measured in 1985, 1991, 1997 and 2003. 385 (4.5%) developed dementia by 2017.

Those who had a systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg or more at the age of 50 had a 45% greater risk of developing dementia than those with a lower systolic blood pressure at the same age. This association was not seen at the ages of 60 and 70, and diastolic blood pressure was not linked to dementia.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-06/esoc-dri061118.php

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/13/dementia-risk-to-50-year-olds-with-raised-blood-pressure-study

Intensive blood pressure control reduces risk of MCI

Preliminary results from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) has found that aggressive lowering of systolic blood pressure produced significant reductions in the risk of MCI, and MCI/dementia.

The randomized clinical trial compared an intensive strategy with a systolic blood pressure goal of less than 120 mm Hg and a standard care strategy targeting a systolic blood pressure goal of less than 140 mm Hg. The study involved 9,361 hypertensive older adults (mean age 67.9).

The intensive treatment group had a 19% lower rate of new cases of MCI, and the combined outcome of MCI plus probable all-cause dementia was 15% lower. Serious adverse events of hypotension, syncope, electrolyte abnormalities, and acute kidney injury or acute renal failure occurred more frequently in the intensive-treatment group (4.7% vs 2.5%).

Participants were seen monthly for the first 3 months and every 3 months thereafter. Medications were adjusted on a monthly basis and lifestyle modification was encouraged. 30% of the participants were African American and 10% were Hispanic.

Preliminary results from 673 participants in the trial revealed that total white matter lesion (WML) volume increased in both treatment groups, but the increase was significantly less in the intensive treatment group. There was no significant difference in total brain volume change.

The findings were reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018 in Chicago.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-07/aa-sib072218.php

Arterial stiffness linked to dementia risk

A long-running study involving 356 older adults (average age 78) found that those with high levels of arterial stiffness were 60% more likely to develop dementia during the next 15 years compared to those with lower levels.

Arterial stiffness is correlated with subclinical brain disease and cardiovascular risk factors, but adjusting for these factors didn't reduce the association between arterial stiffness and dementia — indicating that arterial stiffness and subclinical brain damage markers are independently related to dementia risk.

Arterial stiffening can be reduced by antihypertensive medication and perhaps also healthy lifestyle changes such as exercise. This study found that exercise at an average age of 73 was associated with lower arterial stiffness five years later.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/uops-lsi101518.php

Hypertension linked to brain atrophy & poorer waste management

A rat study found that hypertensive rats exhibited larger ventricles, decreased brain volume, and impaired fluid transport. It’s suggested that hypertension interferes with the clearance of macromolecules from the brain, such as amyloid-beta.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/sfn-hb061119.php

Reference: 

Samieri C, Perier M, Gaye B, et al. Association of Cardiovascular Health Level in Older Age With Cognitive Decline and Incident Dementia. JAMA. 2018;320(7):657–664. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.11499

Abell, J. et al. 2018. Association between systolic blood pressure and dementia in the Whitehall II cohort study: role of age, duration and threshold used to define hypertension. European Heart Journal. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy288

[4495] Cui, C., Sekikawa A., Kuller L. H., Lopez O. L., Newman A. B., Kuipers A. L., et al.
(2018).  Aortic Stiffness is Associated with Increased Risk of Incident Dementia in Older Adults.
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 66(1), 297 - 306.

[4496] Mortensen, K. Nygaard, Sanggaard S., Mestre H., Lee H., Kostrikov S., Xavier A. L. R., et al.
(2019).  Impaired Glymphatic Transport in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.
Journal of Neuroscience. 39(32), 6365 - 6377.

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