External factors affect dementia risk

Dementia and mind cognitive impairment are effected by biologically plausible associations between cognitive degeneration and hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, researchers claim.

Investigating how cognitive impairment and decline is influenced by diseases and risk factors, Thorleif Etgen and co-authors assert that hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia are risk indicators of cognitive impairment.

Despite the fact that current data shows a negative association between the external factors and dementia susceptibility, the study asserts that investigating such factors is essential to improving detection and treatment mechanisms.

Hypertension has long been associated with dementia risk, particularly in older women.

Women's Health Initiative research in the US has previously revealed that older women with hypertension are at an increased risk of developing brain lesions that cause dementia in later life.

The longitudinal study investigated health risks among postmenopausal women and the influence of hormone therapy on thinking and memory.

Women who entered the trial with systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure had significantly higher amounts of white matter lesions that cause dementia.

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