Clogged heart, cluttered mind

Clogged arteries or atherosclerosis that causes heart disease can bring on dementia by restricting blood flow to the brain.

Dementia includes difficulty with thinking, reasoning and memory, and can be caused by vascular disease (related to blood vessels), Alzheimer’s disease, and a combination of both and other causes.

Atherosclerosis is a build-up of plaque in the arteries linked with elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and other risk factors.

The journal, Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, reported when clogged arteries restrict or block blood flow to the brain it is called cerebrovascular disease, which can result in vascular cognitive impairment.

“We have learned that cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease may work together to cause cognitive impairment and the mixed disorder may be the most common type of dementia in older people,” lead researcher, Philip Gorelick, said.

Physical activity, a healthy diet and body weight, tobacco avoidance as well as blood pressure and cholesterol management could significantly help many people maintain their mental abilities as they age, researchers reported.

“Generally speaking, what is good for the heart is good for the brain,” Mr Gorelick said.

He said although the findings are not “definitely proven yet”, treatment or prevention of major risk factors for stroke and heart disease may also prove to preserve cognitive function with age.