“You can’t reverse the changes”: how heart disease affects dementia risk

Structural changes in the left atrium increase the likelihood of dementia, even in patients without cardiac dysfunction. solve Researchers at Johns Hopkins University. The scientists tested more than 15,000 people for dementia and irregularities in the structure and rhythm of the heart and repeated the diagnosis eight years later. Changes in the structure of the left atrium occurred in 1709 participants, increasing the likelihood of developing dementia by 28-35%. Cognitive impairment was detected in 763 people in total.

Among all the structural pathologies of the heart, the authors of the study specifically singled out changes in the left atrium. This chamber of the heart receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs. From there it pushes towards the left ventricle and then carries oxygen through the arteries to all tissues and organs. For normal functioning, all parts of the heart must contract in a coordinated manner. If the rhythm of contractions is disrupted, atrial fibrillation, also known as atrial fibrillation, occurs, which can cause heart failure, heart attack, or stroke.

“To recognize atrial fibrillation in time, it is necessary to undergo an annual medical examination, even if you are young and healthy” – Galina Chudinskaya, a neurologist at JSC Medicina (at academic Roitberg’s clinic), a member of the Interdisciplinary Medical Association, explained to socialbites.ca.

The link between atrial fibrillation and vascular dementia was already known, and doctors from Johns Hopkins University have confirmed it once again. Importantly, the risk of dementia increased with asymptomatic atrial changes and even without known risk factors, atrial fibrillation or stroke: 28% and 31%, respectively.

“The main conclusion of this study is that even minor structural changes in the left atrium can indicate chronic heart failure. This leads to a deterioration in the nutrition of the brain, even in the absence of external manifestations of heart failure. And this significantly increases the risk of developing vascular dementia. This is because under conditions of malnutrition, “There is little connection between nerve cells, dendrites, weak branching processes. Therefore, the neural network becomes thinner, information is transmitted slowly, it becomes difficult to learn new skills or remember long-learned information,” explains Chudinskaya.

Prevention of atrial fibrillation includes well-known measures: a healthy and varied diet, physical activity and refusal of bad habits.

Vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are two different forms of senile dementia with a different nature. Alzheimer’s disease most likely develops due to the accumulation of special proteins – beta-amyloids in the brain, but so far it has nothing to do with heart or vascular disease. However, they are often combined in one patient.

“Cognitive decline in vascular dementia can be slightly improved by training with a rehabilitation specialist, but changes in the brain cannot be completely reversed. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia are equally dangerous and lead to disruption of daily life, self-service, ”says AN AND ME. Kozhevnikova (Sechenov University) Ksenia Shevtsova.

But there is good news: blood flow to the brain can be improved.

“If the scientists’ conclusions about the great harms of a small malnutrition of the brain are true, the reverse may also be true: even a small improvement in blood flow to the brain can somewhat alter the prognostic odds for patients. Therefore, we recommend that you always act as much as possible. At the same time, it is important that physical activity is within the power of a person, and after any cold you should take a break for several weeks. This is especially true at this time: infectious myocarditis is increasingly common even in young people with a corona virus. And of course, training is contraindicated if there are signs of acute respiratory infection, ”Chudinskaya warned.

As Shevtsova explains, You can delay the onset of senile dementia with fairly simple actions: daily walks, physical activity, cognitive training – poetry or study of foreign languages. And, of course, proper nutrition – the Mediterranean diet showed the greatest effectiveness. There is evidence that statins, which are cholesterol-lowering drugs, may slightly reduce the risk of dementia, but there isn’t enough research yet.

“If you or your relatives do not have any complaints, there is no point in consulting a neurologist, just in case. But the elderly need to be careful. If in current events there are memory disorders, carelessness, intolerance to criticism, it’s time to see a doctor, ”shevtsova summarized.