title: Hematologic risk factors of vascular disease and their relation to dementia.
abstract: Multiple studies have implicated vascular-related conditions as risk factors for dementia. Clarification of these factors in dementia is important because most are modifiable, and may serve as the basis for preventive strategies. Several hematologic factors are associated with vascular diseases, but their relation to dementia is unclear. This review examines biological and epidemiological evidence concerning the role of these hematologic factors in dementia, and dementia subtypes. Reviewed factors include homocysteine, cholesterol, fatty acids, antioxidants, and C-reactive protein. The vast majority of studies reviewed are cross-sectional. Longitudinal studies with serial hematologic measures are needed to clarify the relationship between these factors and dementia over the lifespan. A necessary step is to examine multiple hematologic factors simultaneously, rather than in isolation, to determine how these factors are interrelated.
authors.affiliation: Center on Aging and Health and the Alzheimer Disease Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. mmielke@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mielke
authors.forename: Peter P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Zandi
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006710:Homocysteine; D014810:Vitamin E; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001205:Ascorbic Acid