Health Factors in 20s May Predict Cerebrovascular Disease and Dementia Later in Life

Results from a preliminary study show that the presence of smoking, high cholesterol, or high body mass index (BMI) in a person's 20s may make them more likely to have cerebrovascular disease and dementia later in life.

In the study, 189 people, mean age 24, were followed for 30 years as part of a larger study. Of the group, 45% were black and 55% were white. Participants were tested 8 times throughout of the study. Each time, their cardiovascular health was assessed based on 5 factors: smoking, BMI, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose level.

At their 30 year visit, the participants’ thinking and memory skills were tested, along with their brain’s ability to regulate its blood flow. It was found that individuals with better cardiovascular health at the beginning of the study were more likely to have higher scores on the tests 30 years later than those with poorer cardiovascular health at the beginning. 

The individuals with better cardiovascular health at the beginning of the study and 7 years into the study were more likely to have better cerebral autoregulation. 

“These results indicate that people need to pay close attention to their health even in their early 20s,” said Farzaneh A. Sorond, MD, PhD, professor of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago. “We’ve known that vascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and high blood glucose levels are linked to cerebrovascular damage and problems with thinking skills in older people, but this study shows that these factors may be linked decades earlier and injury may start much earlier. More focus on a life course research approach is needed to help us better understand how these vascular risk factors affect brain health as we age.”

The study results will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 72nd Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, April 25 - May 1, 2020.