Being diagnosed with coronary heart disease, especially before the age of 45, may heighten your risk of developing dementia later in life, according to a new research study published this week.
Here’s what you need to know about this new study—plus ways to help your heart and mind through your eating pattern.
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What the Study Found
There were 432,667 participants in this study and, among them, 5,876 cases of dementia, 2,540 cases of Alzheimer’s disease and 1,220 cases of vascular dementia were reported within 13 years of follow-up.
Through this data, the researchers noticed the connection between dementia and Alzheimer’s risk with those managing heart disease. The study found thatparticipants with coronary heart disease before age 45 had a 36% increased risk of developing dementia, a 13% increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s and a 78% greater risk of developing vascular dementia.The risk of dementia was higher when the participant had early-onset heart disease, and a study author explains the findingsin a release.
“What surprised us most was the linear relationship between age of coronary heart disease onset and dementia,” Fanfan Zheng, Ph.D., senior study author and researcher, says. “This shows the huge detrimental influence of premature coronary heart disease on brain health.”
What does this mean? According to Zheng, the researchers are hoping that this correlation between heart health and brain health will provide another reason for younger adults to take care of their bodies.
“As more people live longer and are diagnosed with coronary heart disease at a younger age, it’s likely there will be a large increase in the number of people living with dementia in years to come,” Zheng explains. “Health care professionals should be aware of individuals diagnosed with coronary heart disease at a young age. The next step is to determine whether modifying cardiovascular risk early in life will promote better brain health later in life.”
The Bottom Line
This study shows that being diagnosed with heart disease early in life can be a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. While more research is needed, this study is another case of demonstrating the brain’s connection to the rest of the body, including your heart. For more information, read more on howcholesterol levels can impact your dementia risk here.
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