Improved heart health slows brain aging and reduces the risk of dementia, research finds

New research has shown that older people who maintain strong cardiovascular health are less likely to have symptoms of brain degeneration and encourage hope to prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

study: Cardiovascular health and biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. Image credits: Crystal Light / Shutterstock.com

recently Jama Network Open The study investigates the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) and biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases.

The role of CVH in the risk of neurodegenerative diseases

The American Heart Association has developed Life's Simple 7, a seven-item tool that improves physical fitness and diet quality, maintains normal body mass index (BMI), and supports CVH in the general population by managing diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Individuals with a simple 7 score for a higher life have optimal CVH and are at a lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

CVD and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease share several common risk factors. Some of these include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome and smoking tobacco. In comparison, optimal CVH may reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases by reducing the rate of cognitive decline and reducing the high intensity amount of white matter.

About the research

The current study investigates whether CVH affects several biomarkers of neurodegenerative processes, including serum levels of neuroproliferating light chains (NFL) and total tau (T-TAU). We also measured these longitudinal changes. Biomarkers A 10-year level to determine whether these changes differ between blacks and whites.

Data were obtained from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP) Study, a population-based study identifying risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, and other types of dementia. The Chap Cohort was made up of 10,802 Black and White Americans over the age of 65 from the south side of Chicago. Demographic data, medical history, and serum samples were collected every three years between 1993 and 2012.

A total of 5,470 participants from Chap Cohort were selected based on their willingness to provide serum samples. Of these individuals, 1,327 samples were randomly selected to measure NFL and T-TAU levels.

CVH scores were developed using Life's simple seven tools, including BMI, diet, physical activity, diabetes, smoking status, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Each study participants were assigned zero, one, or two scores based on their compliance with seven cardiovascular health factors.

The CVH score ranges from zero and 14 points, with a high score reflecting excellent CVH.

Survey results

A total of 1,018 CHAP study participants were selected for the final analysis. The average age for this cohort was 73.1 years, 61.4% were female, 59.9% were black, and 40.1% were white.

Most study participants with a high CVH score of 10-14 points were Caucasian or reported higher education. Approximately 34.6% of study participants were carriers of at least one apolipoprotein E4 (apoe E4) Alleles reflecting genetic predisposition to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Higher CVH scores were associated with lower serum concentrations in the NFL, with a single point increase in CVH scores associated with significantly lower serum levels in the NFL. Individuals with higher CVH scores were likely to have significantly lower levels of NFL compared to study participants with CVH scores from zero to 6. No association was observed between CVH and serum T-TAU concentrations for each point increase in CVH score.

Higher CVH scores were statistically associated with lower NFL levels apoe Only E4 carriers. These observed associations between CVH and the NFL were race-independent.

Baseline CVD had no effect on the association between CVH scores and NFL levels. In particular, an increase in CVH scores was associated with slower annual increases in NFL levels as participants age. However, CVH scores did not affect annual changes in T-TAU concentrations.

Serum NFL and TT-TAU levels across the CVH score range were also measured during a 10-year follow-up period. To this end, individuals with the lowest CVH score experienced an annual increase in NFL levels by 7.1%, while those with the highest CVH score showed an annual increase in NFL rate by 5.2%.

Conclusion

Elderly people with superior CVH had lower NFL serum levels, regardless of age, gender, or race. For individuals carrying apoe The E4 allele, a larger CVH score, was significantly associated with lower levels of NFL.

These findings highlight the importance of maintaining optimal CVH to reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. This is especially important for black adults at high risk of developing CVD.

Promoting CVH in older adults may help reduce the burden of neurodegenerative diseases. ”