New research has found that heart disease can directly cause brain dysfunction, potentially leading to dementia even before visible damage appears in the brain’s blood vessels.
The study, published in eLife, shows that heart disease disrupts a key brain function that controls blood flow, which may explain why some forms of vascular dementia develop years before signs of brain atherosclerosis.
How Heart Disease Affects the Brain
The study found that people with heart disease experience a breakdown in neurovascular coupling, a crucial process that regulates blood supply to the brain based on activity levels.
Normally, when neurons become more active, blood flow increases to deliver oxygen and nutrients. However, in people with heart disease, this mechanism is impaired, meaning the brain gets less oxygen even when it needs more.
Dr. Osman Shabir, lead researcher from the University of Sheffield, explained, “Heart disease in midlife causes the breakdown of neurovascular coupling, meaning the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen when required. Over time, this can contribute to dementia.”
Increased Alzheimer’s Risk for Heart Disease Patients
One of the most concerning findings from the study is that heart disease combined with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s can dramatically worsen brain health. The researchers found that people with both conditions had:
- Three times higher levels of beta-amyloid, the protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Increased levels of an inflammatory gene (IL1), which contributes to brain inflammation and cognitive decline.
These findings suggest that heart disease could accelerate Alzheimer’s-related brain changes, making early detection and treatment even more critical.
Could an Arthritis Drug Help Protect the Brain?
Based on these findings, the research team has received funding from the British Heart Foundation to investigate whether an arthritis drug targeting IL1 could help reverse or reduce brain dysfunction caused by heart disease. If successful, this could lead to new treatments that slow down cognitive decline in patients at risk of both heart disease and dementia.
Brain Injuries Can Make Things Worse
The study also found that brain injuries further disrupt blood flow regulation in the brain, which may explain why people with heart disease often experience worsening cognitive symptoms after falls or head injuries.
The Bigger Picture
This research highlights the strong link between heart health and brain health. It reinforces the idea that managing heart disease could also help protect brain function and reduce the risk of dementia.
Future studies will explore potential treatments, but for now, these findings emphasize the importance of maintaining good cardiovascular health to support long-term brain function.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
The research findings can be found in eLife.
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