Poorer cardiovascular health in middle-aged people increases the appearance of dementia during old age

The results of this study, which shows a higher risk among women, can become a tool to develop dementia prevention strategies in primary care

A study led by researchers from the IDIAPJGol shows that the risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementias during old age is higher among middle-aged people who have poorer cardiovascular health, especially women. The authors of the study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, highlight that the results can be used to develop strategies for preventing dementia in primary care.

The research shows a higher risk of suffering from dementia among people over 50 years of age who have poorer cardiovascular health. This effect is especially relevant in women: those who have poorer cardiovascular health and no previous vascular disease have a higher risk of suffering from dementia like those who have vascular disease. To carry out this research, a retrospective follow-up was carried out for 15 years on all people aged between 50 and 74 years registered in the Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP), which is the database that collects practically all the people treated in the primary care in Catalonia. In total, the study included data from one million people, of whom more than 50,000 have developed some type of dementia. The research team used the REGICOR index (Girona Heart Registry) to calculate the cardiovascular risk of these patients.

This tool uses demographic, biometric and health data to estimate the risk of suffering cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack or stroke, over ten years. This evaluation system helps doctors to identify people with a higher cardiovascular risk and to take preventive measures to reduce it. The study’s lead researcher, Anna Ponjoan, from the Girona Vascular Health Research Group at IDIAPJGol, highlights that “incorporating the gender perspective into risk estimation models, clinical practice and public health policies can help improve cardiovascular health, especially in women aged 50, and prevent dementia.”

Article reference

Ponjoan A, Blanch J, Fages-Masmiquel E, Martí-Lluch R, Alves-Cabratosa L, Garcia-Gil MDM, Domínguez-Armengol G, Ribas-Aulinas F, Zacarías-Pons L, Ramos R. Sex matters in the association between cardiovascular health and incident dementia: evidence from real world data. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2024 Mar 14;16(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s13195-024-01406-x. PMID: 38481343; PMCID: PMC10938682.