In a new study, researchers found genes and heart health each contribute in an additive way to a person’s risk of dementia.
The research was conducted by a team at The University of Texas Health Science Center and elsewhere.
The study was conducted in 1,211 participants in the Framingham Heart Study.
The team found people with a high genetic risk score based on common genetic variants, including having an allele called apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4, were at a 2.6-fold higher risk of developing dementia than subjects who had a low-risk score and did not carry the APOE ε4 allele.
Having good heart health, as defined by an index of the American Heart Association, was linked to a 0.45-fold lower risk of dementia compared to having unfavorable cardiovascular health
The team says the connection between heart health and brain health becomes clearer with each finding.
The team hopes that the results of this study will send the public a message, and that message is to exercise, reduce stress, and eat a healthy diet.
Then, regardless of the genes, people have the potential to lower the risk of dementia.
The researchers say that having good heart health may mitigate the risk of dementia in people with high genetic risk.
One author of the study is Sudha Seshadri, M.D.
The study is published in Neurology.
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