During American Heart Month in February, a new study has shed light on the links between heart disease, poor circulation and mental decline in senior citizens.
Mayo Clinic researchers report in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Neurology that women are particularly susceptible to the health connections to mild cognitive impairment as they age, which can predict dementia in later years.
For the study, 1,450 people between the ages of 70 and 89 were examined for cardiovascular and mental health. Over the course of four years, about one-fourth of participants developed MCI, including a form of the condition that the study team determined was strongly associated with heart disease.
That type of the disorder, called nonamnestic MCI, is characterized by impaired decision-making and the inability to plan and organize, but does not involve memory loss. While it may lead to dementia, it isn’t usually linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Two conclusions were reached by the researchers. They decided the incidence of the MCI-related heart disease was more prevalent for women than men involved in the study. Secondly, they believed that careful medical management of heart disease and potential vascular problems could reduce the risk.
“For those women with coronary artery disease, there is the potential of developing diffuse vascular disease, and this can possibly be a precursor of vascular dementia,” Suzanne Steinbaum, M.D., a preventive cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told MedlinePlus. “With evidence of heart disease, there needs to be early detection, intervention and aggressive treatment for the development of dementia, as well.”
The National Institute on Aging reports that certain aspects of MCI may be affected by some medications and cerebrovascular disease, which can impair circulation in blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. In some cases, these conditions can be stabilized or even reversed.
Taking a dietary supplement such as EZ Melts Energy, Memory and Mood Enhancer from Dr. Newton’s Naturals promotes cognitive function through a mix of B vitamins and other nutrients.