Cardiovascular Risk may Affect the Mind
Reported November 10, 2004
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Not being in optimum cardiovascular health not only affects the heart, but researchers now say mental health is also in jeopardy. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, found a link between metabolic syndrome and an increased risk for cognitive impairment in the elderly. The conditions of metabolic syndrome include excessive fat around the abdomen, high blood pressure, high blood glucose levels, high blood pressure, and low levels of HDL (good cholesterol). During a span of five years, the mental health of more than 2,600 elders with metabolic syndrome was studied using a standard cognitive test that measures orientation, concentration, memory and other mental factors. Results show 26 percent of patients with metabolic syndrome experienced significant cognitive decline, compared with 21 percent without the syndrome. Kristine Yaffe, M.D., co-author of the study, says, “If we keep going, not only is the obesity epidemic going to lead to people having more strokes and heart disease and diabetes, but maybe it will mean a lot more people having dementia.” The study did not conclude the causes of cognitive decline in the presence of metabolic syndrome and high inflammation.
SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2004;292:2237-2242
