For those of you who have followed me over the years, you may notice repeat posts. This is because during one of my most recent site change attempts I accidentally deleted the contents of this entire category, leaving me with no choice but to go back and repost the lost ones.
The ability to think clearly, learn, and then remember is directly related to cognitive health. It is my hope that the information soon to be provided will help us all in maintaining these cognitive functions as long as possible.
101023 Heart attacks may be linked to accelerated cognitive decline over time[1]
September 21, 2023 I was looking NIA site and ran across this study and felt it needed to go out now rather than wait until the regular post went out.
Aging BiologyClinical ResearchCognitive Health
Individuals who have one or more heart attacks in their lifetime may experience faster long-term cognitive decline, according to an NIA-funded study. Heart attacks were not associated with cognitive decline immediately following the event. The findings, published in JAMA Neurology, suggest that heart attacks are an important risk factor for cognitive decline, even after someone has recovered from the heart attack itself.
A team of researchers led by Johns Hopkins University set out to discover if experiencing a myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is associated with subsequent changes in cognitive function. The researchers analyzed pooled data from six NIH-funded longitudinal cohort studies of cardiovascular health conducted from 1971 to 2019: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, Cardiovascular Health Study, Framingham Offspring Study, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and Northern Manhattan Study. When participants entered these studies, they were on average age 64 and had no history of heart attack, stroke, or dementia. In addition to sharing their health records, they took cognitive tests measuring their memory, reasoning, and decision-making skills over time.
For this new study, the researchers analyzed data from 30,465 of the cohort study participants. They first identified 1,033 participants who experienced a heart attack in their lifetime, and then examined their cognitive test scores in the years before and after the event. Participants who had a heart attack generally did not have any change in cognitive function at the time of the event. However, in the years that followed, they had faster rates of cognitive decline than those who had never had a heart attack.
These results add to a growing amount of evidence pointing toward a link between heart and brain health. Additionally, the findings could inform how health care providers monitor and discuss risk for cognitive decline in their patients after a heart attack. Future studies may also explore how gender and race interact with the relationship between heart attack and cognitive decline.
This research was supported in part by NIA grants R01AG051827 and K01AG050699.
These activities relate to NIH’s Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Research Implementation Milestones:
- 1.F, “Population Studies: Inclusion of non-AD cohorts.”
- 9.M, “Multiple Etiology Dementias: Establish pre-symptomatic diagnostics and biomarkers.”
Reference: Johansen MC, et al. Association between acute myocardial infarction and cognition. JAMA Neurology. 2023;80(7):723-731. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.1331.
[1] https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/heart-attacks-may-be-linked-accelerated-cognitive-decline-over-time
Heart attacks may be linked to accelerated cognitive decline over time[1]
September 21, 2023
Aging BiologyClinical ResearchCognitive Health
Individuals who have one or more heart attacks in their lifetime may experience faster long-term cognitive decline, according to an NIA-funded study. Heart attacks were not associated with cognitive decline immediately following the event. The findings, published in JAMA Neurology, suggest that heart attacks are an important risk factor for cognitive decline, even after someone has recovered from the heart attack itself.
A team of researchers led by Johns Hopkins University set out to discover if experiencing a myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is associated with subsequent changes in cognitive function. The researchers analyzed pooled data from six NIH-funded longitudinal cohort studies of cardiovascular health conducted from 1971 to 2019: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, Cardiovascular Health Study, Framingham Offspring Study, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, and Northern Manhattan Study. When participants entered these studies, they were on average age 64 and had no history of heart attack, stroke, or dementia. In addition to sharing their health records, they took cognitive tests measuring their memory, reasoning, and decision-making skills over time.
For this new study, the researchers analyzed data from 30,465 of the cohort study participants. They first identified 1,033 participants who experienced a heart attack in their lifetime, and then examined their cognitive test scores in the years before and after the event. Participants who had a heart attack generally did not have any change in cognitive function at the time of the event. However, in the years that followed, they had faster rates of cognitive decline than those who had never had a heart attack.
These results add to a growing amount of evidence pointing toward a link between heart and brain health. Additionally, the findings could inform how health care providers monitor and discuss risk for cognitive decline in their patients after a heart attack. Future studies may also explore how gender and race interact with the relationship between heart attack and cognitive decline.
This research was supported in part by NIA grants R01AG051827 and K01AG050699.
These activities relate to NIH’s Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Research Implementation Milestones:
- 1.F, “Population Studies: Inclusion of non-AD cohorts.”
- 9.M, “Multiple Etiology Dementias: Establish pre-symptomatic diagnostics and biomarkers.”
Reference: Johansen MC, et al. Association between acute myocardial infarction and cognition. JAMA Neurology. 2023;80(7):723-731. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.1331.
[1] https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/heart-attacks-may-be-linked-accelerated-cognitive-decline-over-time
Individuals who have one or more heart attacks in their lifetime may experience faster long-term cognitive decline, according to an NIA-funded study.
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170223 Cognitive Health and Older Adults part 6 Lack of Physical Activity
170223 Cognitive Health and Older Adults part 6 Lack of Physical Activity
Cognitive health — the ability to clearly think, learn, and remember — is an important component of performing everyday activities. Cognitive health is just one aspect of overall brain health.
Lack of exercise and other physical activity may increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, depression, and stroke — all of which can harm the brain. In some studies, physical activity has been linked to improved cognitive performance and reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease. In general, staying active is known to lower the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and symptoms of depression, all of which in turn can improve cognitive health.
Poor Diet
A number of studies link eating certain foods with keeping the brain healthy and suggest that other foods can increase health risk. For example, high-fat and high-sodium foods can lead to health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes, that can harm the brain.
Smoking
Smoking is harmful to your body and your brain. It raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, and lung disease. Quitting smoking at any age can improve your health.
Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol affects the brain by slowing or impairing communication among brain cells. This can lead to slurred speech, fuzzy memory, drowsiness, and dizziness. Long-term effects may include changes in balance, memory, emotions, coordination, and body temperature. Staying away from alcohol can reverse some of these changes.
As people age, they may become more sensitive to alcohol’s effects. The same amount of alcohol can have a greater effect on an older person than on someone who is younger. Also, some medicines can be dangerous when mixed with alcohol. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Sleep Problems
At any age, getting a good night’s sleep supports brain health. Sleep problems — not getting enough sleep, sleeping poorly, and sleep disorders — can lead to trouble with memory, concentration, and other cognitive functions.
Social Isolation and Loneliness
Social isolation and feeling lonely may be bad for brain health. Loneliness has been linked to higher risk for dementia, and less social activity has been linked to poorer cognitive function.
By taking steps now to reduce your risks for cognitive decline, you’ll help to maintain your cognitive health for the future.
170223 Cognitive Health and Older Adults part 6 Lack of Physical Activity Cognitive health — the ability to clearly think, learn, and remember — is an important component of performing everyday activities. Cognitive health is just one aspect of overall brain health. Lack of exercise and other physical activity may increase your risk of diabetes, heart disease, …Continue reading170223 Cognitive Health and Older Adults part 6 Lack of Physical Activity
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