Poor Heart Health Now Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk
A recent study has now linked heart disease with the increased chance of developing dementia. Researchers have noted that signs of artery stiffness, which is officially called atherosclerosis, has been associated with a buildup of the beta-amyloid plaque in a person’s brain, which is a tell-tale sign of Alzheimer’s disease.
This is just another example of how your heart health is directly related to your brain health. The actual process of vascular aging may predispose a person’s brain to the increased amount of amyloid plaque buildup. The plaque will continue to build as a person ages and become worse as arteries become stiffer. An essential factor for preventing the buildup of this plaque will be ensuring the brain health throughout a person’s life.
Alzheimer’s disease is the number one cause of dementia in older people. This is a progressive brain disorder that can affect a person’s memory, thinking capability and their ability to perform daily activities.
More and more neurologists and cardiologist are beginning to warm up to the ideal that brain health and heart health are not completely independent, but instead interrelated. For many, this proves to be a much more holistic and satisfying approach. There are new types of tools that can be used to allow doctors to view the amyloid plaque while a person is still alive and see the interactions that are taking place. This development has led to a new slew of discoveries in the interrelation of the brain, heart and Alzheimer’s disease.
However, it is still necessary to discover how chronic vascular disease is able to impact the brain and why exactly it results in dementia. This is why more research is necessary to find out the exact relationship that is present between vascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, arterial stiffness and the actual development of dementia.
It has been noted that an injury to a person’s blood vessels in their brain may actually dramatically alter the progression as well as onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
In order for a person to reduce their heart risks, it means that they should eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, maintain a normal weight, and minimize their stress while not smoking. These behaviors will be able to help and keep cholesterol and blood pressure at a safe level.
If you have a loved one that suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, utilizing the services of Comfort Keepers will ensure that they receive the proper care until a cure or preventative method can be discovered for the disorder.
Comfort Keepers
23900 Lyons Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
661-287-4200
