Stiffer arteries are associated with higher risk of dementia in older adults
A new study reveals that older adults with stiffer arteries face a significantly higher risk of developing dementia. Researchers suggest that monitoring arterial stiffness could eventually become a valuable tool for predicting and managing cognitive decline.
A recent study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia has revealed a link between stiffer arteries and an increased risk of developing dementia in older adults. Researchers analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort study, which tracked over 15,000 participants aged 45 to 64 for a median of nine years.
Participants were assessed for arterial stiffness using pulse wave velocity (PWV), a measure of how quickly blood pressure waves travel through the arteries. The study found that individuals with faster PWV, indicating stiffer arteries, had a higher likelihood of developing dementia during the follow-up period. Other measures of arterial stiffness, including total, structural, and load-dependent PWV, also showed associations with greater dementia risk.
The study authors suggest that this correlation may be due to age-related changes in the arterial wall as well as increased stiffness caused by high blood pressure, particularly in older adults with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. While the study establishes a connection between arterial stiffness and dementia risk, it does not establish causal links, as it was observational in nature.
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