A new study suggests that a large number of dementia cases in the U.S. could be prevented by reducing certain health problems linked to the heart and metabolism.
Researchers from the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix found strong evidence that diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, and stroke are major contributors to dementia—especially in the Southern United States.
Published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the study highlights how better management of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) could help lower the number of dementia cases across the country.
CMDs include common conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
These diseases are known to affect how blood and nutrients reach the brain, which is crucial for brain health as people age.
The research team, led by Dr. Brad Racette, Chair of Neurology at Barrow, found that 37% of dementia cases could be linked to one of eight cardiometabolic conditions.
The most influential were high blood pressure (9.6% of cases), ischemic heart disease (6.7%), and chronic heart failure (5.7%).
Dr. Racette explained that while completely removing these health risks might be unrealistic, even small improvements could make a big difference. For example, reducing these risk factors by just 15% could lower new dementia cases by about 6.3% among older Americans.
What makes this study stand out is its use of advanced mapping tools to explore regional trends.
The team used Medicare health data from more than 20 million people aged 67 to 110 across the U.S. They focused only on people enrolled in standard Medicare plans (Parts A and B) and not in Medicare Advantage, since those plans don’t report detailed data.
The results showed that the South had the strongest connection between heart and metabolic diseases and dementia.
Researchers believe this is likely due to higher rates of obesity, poor diet, and low levels of physical activity in those states. On the other hand, the link between these diseases and dementia was much weaker in the Pacific Northwest, Great Plains, and Rocky Mountain regions.
While the study had some limits—it didn’t include Medicare Advantage members, for instance—it still offers a valuable message.
Keeping your heart and metabolism healthy might not only help you feel better physically, but it could also protect your brain in later life. The study was supported by several foundations, including the Barrow Neurological Foundation and the Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and scientists find how COVID-19 damages the heart.
If you care about dementia, please read studies that eating apples and tea could keep dementia at bay, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health.
