A recent study has established a significant link between cardiovascular health and the risk of developing dementia among older adults. Conducted by researcher Xin Xia, the investigation focuses on how cardiovascular metrics and orthostatic hypotension—a notable drop in blood pressure upon standing—affect cognitive aging.
The study, part of Xia’s thesis titled “Cardiovascular Health, Orthostatic Hypotension, and Cognitive Aging,” utilized data from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen. The research aligns with the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) criteria, which evaluate cardiovascular health based on seven critical factors: smoking, body mass index, physical activity, diet, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and total cholesterol.
Xia and her team found that individuals with better cardiovascular health, as defined by LS7, exhibited a lower risk of developing dementia and enjoyed longer life spans without cognitive impairment. This correlation was particularly evident in those aged younger than 80 years. Notably, the findings did not extend to individuals aged 80 and above, indicating a potential shift in the impact of cardiovascular health on cognitive aging in older populations.
The study also revealed a concerning association between orthostatic hypotension and the future development of both cardiovascular diseases and dementia. Interestingly, the connection between orthostatic hypotension and dementia could not be fully attributed to common vascular risk factors or comorbidities. Such conditions include hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, and Parkinson’s disease, which may elevate the likelihood of experiencing orthostatic hypotension.
The implications of these findings are significant. The LS7 criteria may serve as an effective tool for enhancing cognitive health and increasing the duration of cognitive impairment-free life years among younger seniors. In contrast, the criteria might not suffice in promoting healthy cognitive aging in older seniors.
Moreover, the research suggests that orthostatic hypotension could represent a modifiable risk factor for dementia. Further studies are necessary to determine whether this condition is merely a marker for other clinical problems or if it stands as an independent risk factor for dementia. Should it be confirmed as an independent risk, managing orthostatic hypotension could become a vital strategy in dementia prevention.
Xia expressed her aspiration to continue her epidemiological research in dementia and aging fields. She also aims to develop innovative methodologies to enhance the quality of epidemiological and observational studies in the future. The findings underscore the importance of cardiovascular health in cognitive aging and signal a need for ongoing research into the intricate relationship between heart health and dementia risk in older adults.
