Friday May 30, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A report in Current Pharmaceutical Design suggests that there is something everyone can do to lower the risk of dementia.According to the report, vascular risk factors may also contribute to Alzheimer-vascular spectrum dementias.

• Overweight, obesity, and underweight during midlife are linked to cognitive decline and dementia later in life. 
• Hypertension, particularly untreated hypertension during midlife is also correlated with dementia later in life.
• Calcium channel blockers (Amlodipine (Norvasc), Diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac), Felodipine, Isradipine, Nicardipine (Cardene SR), Nifedipine (Procardia), Nisoldipine (Sular), Verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Covera-HS)), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (Benazepril (Lotensin), Captopril, Enalapril (Vasotec), Fosinopril, Lisinopril (Zestril), Moexipril (Univasc), Perindopril (Aceon), Quinapril (Accupril), Ramipril (Altace), Trandolapril (Mavik)), and angiotensin-1 receptor-blockers may help lower the risk of dementia associated with hypertension. 
• Type 2 diabetes is considered a risk factor for dementia. 
• Episodes of hypoglycemia predict risk of dementia in later life.
• Regular physical exercise during any point in the lifespan prevents cognitive decline and dementia while benefits are more significantly associated with physical exercise during early and midlife. 
• Dyslipidemia or high cholesterol increases the risk of dementia although not all studies are consistent.   The effect of lipid-lowering agents (statins) on risk of dementia is conflicting.
• The effect of smoking on the risk of dementia is unclear now.

Vascular risk factors are more significantly associated with vascular dementia than Alzheimer's disease. Evidence suggests that anything that promotes vascular risk factor reduction may be used to prevent dementia.ReferencePossible Role of Vascular Risk Factors in Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia.Hasnain M, Victor R Vieweg WCurrent Pharmaceutical Design [2014]