Treating vascular risk factors may cut Alzheimer's disease risk
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A new study in the April 13, 2011 online issue of Neurology suggests that treating vascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes may reduce risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in people with mild cognitive impairment.
Yan-Jiang Wang, MD, PhD, of the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China and colleagues found people with mild cognitive impairment who received full 5-year treatment for their vascular risk factors were 39 percent less likely to suffer Alzheimer's disease, compared with those with the same condition, but who were given any treatment.
The study involved 837 people with mild cognitive impairment, which is a sign that people may be at high risk for Alzheimer's disease. Of these patients, 414 had at least one vascular risk factor. Participants were classified into three groups: one group with no risk factors treated, one group with all risk factors treated and the third group with some risk factors treated.
At the end of five years of treatment, 298 were found to have developed Alzheimer's disease. Of those with risk factors, 52 percent developed the disease compared to 36 percent of those who did not have any risk factor.
The researchers observed that those with risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease and high cholesterol were twice as likely as those without risk factors to develop Alzheimer's disease.
Those who had some risk factors treated were 26 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease compared with those who were not given any treatment at all.
The treatments included blood pressure-lowering medications, insulin, and cholesterol-lowering drugs or statins and diet control.
An estimated five million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease. By definition, this disease has no cure even though it is treatable. Eventually people with this disease will lose their ability to support themselves.
Prevention of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is not a disease that is caused by a healthy aging process. There are many things people can do to reduce their risk.
One's diet can make a huge difference. A study led by Gu Y and colleagues from Columbia University showed that eating salad dressing, nuts, fish, tomatoes, poultry, calciferous vegetables, fruits and dark and green leafy vegetables can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by up to 38 percent.
The study published in the April 12, 2010 issue of Archives of Neurology also found that eating high fat dairy products, red meat, organ meat and butter may boost the risk.
What may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease include healthy diet, cinnamon extract, grape seed extract, antioxidants, apple juice, green tea, exercise, curry, vitamin D, Mediterranean diet, garlic, ginkgo supplements, the red wine antioxidant resveratrol, and high vitamin E.
What may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease include smoking, taking anti-psychotic drugs, aluminum salts, too much dietary or supplemental iron, high cholesterol, fatty diet, high blood sugar, low bone mineral density, and sugary beverages.
David Liu and editing by Denise Reynolds
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