A new study reveals that older adults who maintain strong cardiovascular health show fewer signs of brain degeneration, providing promising evidence for preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease through heart-healthy lifestyle choices.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study explores the connection between cardiovascular health (CVH) and biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Researchers examined how optimal heart health, as measured by the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7” tool, can influence brain aging and the risk of neurodegenerative disorders.
The Role of Cardiovascular Health in Neurodegenerative Disease Risk
The “Life’s Simple 7” is a seven-item framework designed to promote cardiovascular health through diet, physical activity, weight management, and the management of diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Studies have shown that individuals with higher scores on this tool exhibit better heart health and are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as heart disease and stroke. Notably, CVDs and neurodegenerative conditions share several risk factors, including hypertension, high cholesterol, and smoking.
Maintaining optimal CVH may reduce the likelihood of developing dementia by slowing cognitive decline and limiting brain damage associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
Study Overview
The recent research investigated how CVH affects biomarkers linked to neurodegeneration, such as neurofilament light chain (NfL) and total tau (t-tau), over a decade. Researchers analyzed data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), a long-term study tracking cognitive decline and dementia risk among older adults. The CHAP cohort included 10,802 participants aged 65 and older, including both Black and White individuals, primarily from the South Side of Chicago. Medical histories, demographic data, and serum samples were collected every three years from 1993 to 2012.
A total of 5,470 participants were included in the study based on their willingness to provide serum samples, with 1,327 samples selected to measure NfL and t-tau levels. Cardiovascular health scores were calculated using the Life’s Simple 7 parameters, with scores ranging from zero to 14. Higher scores indicated better cardiovascular health.
Key Findings
Among the 1,018 participants analyzed, the average age was 73.1 years, with 61.4% of participants being female, 59.9% Black, and 40.1% White. The study found that higher CVH scores correlated with lower serum levels of NfL, a key biomarker for neurodegeneration. Each one-point increase in the CVH score was linked to a significant reduction in NfL levels. In particular, those with high CVH scores (10-14 points) had notably lower NfL concentrations compared to individuals with low CVH scores (0-6 points).
This effect was most pronounced among individuals with the APOE e4 allele, a gene variant associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The correlation between CVH and NfL was observed regardless of race, suggesting that optimal cardiovascular health may offer protective effects against neurodegenerative diseases for all individuals.
Interestingly, while a higher CVH score was linked to a slower annual increase in NfL levels, no such association was found with t-tau levels.
Long-Term Effects
The study also examined changes in NfL and t-tau over a 10-year period. Participants with lower CVH scores saw an annual increase in NfL levels by 7.1%, while those with higher CVH scores experienced a slower rate of increase at 5.2%.
Conclusion
The study highlights the critical role of cardiovascular health in mitigating brain aging and lowering the risk of dementia. By maintaining a high CVH score, individuals—particularly those with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s—may slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. This research underscores the importance of heart-healthy living, particularly for Black adults, who face higher risks of cardiovascular diseases.
The findings suggest that promoting cardiovascular health could be a key strategy in preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s, offering hope for healthier aging in the future.
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