Heart Health May Be Predictor Of Alzheimer's

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - As we conduct more research on dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease, it is becoming increasingly apparent that cardiovascular disease can play a major role as well.

A report that is part of the famous Framingham heart study indicates the problem may be worse than previously thought. Stroke - even silent stroke - can be a big issue.

Routine brain scans of people of middle age showed that 10% of them had suffered a stroke without knowing it. That raised the risk for further strokes and memory loss.

People with atrial fibrillation, the most common form of irregular heartbeat in people over 65, had more than twice the rate of these silent strokes. The researchers based their findings on routine magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI scans, from about 2,000 people with an average age of 62.

Other factors included other problems including blood homocysteine and corroded artery measurement.

Dementia is a complex issue and the more we learn, the more we realize the role of healthy living and prevention.