Interventions for heart disease and their effects on Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To review the contributions of cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.


METHODS
Review of the literature.


RESULTS
Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia both share significant risk attributable to cardiovascular risk factors. Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia at midlife are significant risk factors for both subsequent dementia. Diabetes and obesity are also risk factors for dementia. Stressful medical procedures, such as coronary artery bypass and graft operations also appear to contribute to the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein E is the major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein E does not appear to contribute to Alzheimer's disease by increasing serum cholesterol, but it might contribute to the disease through a mechanism involving both Abeta and an increase in neuronal vulnerability to stress.


CONCLUSIONS
The strong association of cardiovascular risk factors with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia suggest that these diseases share some biologic pathways in common. The contribution of cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia suggest that cardiovascular therapies might prove useful in treating or preventing dementia. Antihypertensive medications appear to be beneficial in preventing vascular dementia. Statins might be beneficial in preventing the progression of dementia in subjects with Alzheimer's disease.
Wolozin
Benjamin
B
Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118-2526, USA. bwolozin@bu.edu
Bednar
Martin M
MM
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors