Millions of Britons living with heart disease, some of it undiagnosed, could be at increased risk of dementia, a team of experts has warned.
However, four in ten cases of memory theft disorder could be prevented with simple lifestyle changes, according to new research.
Experts said several heart conditions, ranging from an irregular heartbeat to the aftermath of a heart attack, dramatically increase the risk of cognitive decline later in life.
And although around 8 million Britons already live with these conditions, around 300,000 are thought to be undiagnosed but still at risk.
Four in ten cases of dementia could be prevented with simple lifestyle changes, according to new research
Three common cardiovascular diseases in adults—heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and coronary heart disease—are linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) published in the journal. Strokerevealed.
Cognitive decline is considered a precursor to dementia, a disorder that deprives sufferers of their memory and independence.
People with atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes an irregular and abnormally fast heart rhythm, had the highest risk of developing cognitive problems at 39 percent, followed by those with heart disease who were 27 percent more likely to develop dementia. .
Additionally, the AHA warned that about half of heart attack and heart failure victims also develop cognitive impairment after the emergency.
There are around 7.6 million people living with heart or circulatory disease in the UK and 121.5 million in the US.
More than 1.5 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and it is thought to affect up to 6 million Americans a year, while heart failure affects more than a million Britons and almost 6.5 million of Americans.
Professor Fernando Testai, an expert in neurology and rehabilitation at the University of Illinois and chair of the experts who co-wrote the statement, said cognitive decline in people had a dramatic impact on both an individual and societal level.
“Managing heart health from an early age is important to prevent cardiovascular disease and cardiac events, protect brain health, and reduce the risk of cognitive decline later in life,” he said.
Atrial fibrillation, dubbed a “silent killer,” was previously thought to affect around a quarter of adults. But Danish scientists found that among people with heart problems, up to two in five people are likely to develop heart failure during their lifetime.
TO A meta-analysis of previous studies found that nearly 50 percent of people with heart failure experience some type of cognitive impairment that can affect language, memory or executive function.
There are several links between heart failure and brain injury; Reduced blood flow can cause mini-strokes or silent brain injuries, and chronic inflammation can also contribute to brain damage.
Atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition characterized by an irregular and abnormally fast heart rate, also increases the risk of dementia.
Nicknamed the “silent killer,” it is caused by random electrical impulses that fire incorrectly from the upper chambers of the heart and override the heart’s regular rhythm.
This can cause symptoms such as palpitations and difficulty breathing and, in some cases, heart failure.
Both dementia and AF share several risk factors, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, smoking, vascular disease, and sleep-disordered breathing.
Strokes and small brain bleeds are also more common in people with AF and are linked to cognitive decline.
It is thought that, like heart failure, reduced cardiac output with AF may compromise blood flow to key areas of the brain responsible for cognitive function.
According to experts, inflammation is associated with both AF and Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory biomarkers are associated with an increased risk of blood clots and brain injuries.
More than 1.5 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with AF, approximately one in 50 people.
But around 270,000 more people are thought to have AF but remain undiagnosed and unaware of the danger, according to the British Heart Foundation.
Doctors remain baffled as to the exact cause of atrial fibrillation, which can lead to strokes.
However, it is known that it is more common in people with high blood pressure, a consequence of obesity.
The AHA authors highlight that effective treatment of AF can reduce cognitive decline.
Coronary heart disease also significantly increases the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
Data from multiple large-scale studies show that a heart attack is linked to a steeper decline in memory and executive function.
High levels of calcium buildup in the arteries are also linked to an increased risk of developing dementia.
High blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, which are risk factors for heart disease, cause inflammation that affects the blood-brain barrier and reduces blood flow to the brain, leading to cognitive decline and dementia.
Heart disease is also linked to reduced cerebral blood flow, leading to cognitive decline.
The same problems of reduced blood flow in the brain are also seen in Alzheimer’s patients, suggesting a close link between blood vessel damage and brain degeneration.
The AHA authors added that genetic factors that increase the risk of heart disease may also contribute to brain shrinkage and cognitive decline.
Medications such as blood pressure treatment could help reduce mild cognitive impairment, but the study authors say they have not been shown to help prevent dementia.
Other studies looking at heart health and cognitive decline also suggest that heart health can be controlled with lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise, which can also prevent cognitive decline.
Professor Testai said: “Although new drugs are being developed with the potential to treat Alzheimer’s disease, the medical community is well aware that prevention is better than cure.”
“More research is needed to confirm and describe how cardiovascular care can improve brain health. Additionally, more research is needed to understand the ways in which gender, race, and ethnicity can influence the connection between the brain and the heart.’