Heart risk factors 'associated with memory loss'

Middle aged individuals who have cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol could be more prone to memory problems as they get older, research has found.

Researchers from INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris, found that those with a ten per cent higher risk of cardiovascular disease were more likely to experience faster cognitive decline.

Higher cardiovascular risk was additionally linked to lower cognitive function and a 10 year faster rate of overall cognitive decline.

Study author Sara Kaffashian, said: "Our findings contribute to the mounting evidence for the role of cardiovascular risk factors, such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, contributing to cognitive problems, starting in middle age."

This follows news that moderate consumption of alcohol can prevent against heart disease.

Research from the University of Calgary in Canada found that the risk of heart disease for those who do not drink alcohol is between 14 and 25 per cent higher than for those who enjoy moderate alcohol consumption.

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