Preventing A Heart Attack Can Also Prevent Memory Loss

A new study reveals the steps you take to prevent heart attack may also help prevent you from developing dementia. According to researchers, risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol does damage to small blood vessels in the brain and can cause death of brain cells over time.

Researchers reviewed recent medical studies on drugs designed to slow the progression of mixed dementia, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's. They compared that with information relating to heart-protecting therapy and dementia. They found significant benefits in the latter, while they say the memory-loss prevention drugs may cause a measurable but not significant improvement for some people.

In conclusion researchers say that until further studies are completed, physicians should talk with each patient or family individually about the treatment route to pursue and patients with dementia that might have a cardiovascular component, should include advice about lifestyle changes and treatments to address risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and physical inactivity.