dementia

A new study shows more evidence of a link between vascular disease and cognitive impairment. As reported earlier, there is increasing evidence of a connection between high blood pressure and dementia. This new study found that patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (I know it's a mouthful), that is high cholesterol that has a genetic basis, had a greater incidence of mild cognitive impairment than people without that condition. The study only had 117 participants, with 47 having familial hypercholesterolemia. More solid evidence would require a much larger sample. The press release is here.

As evidence grows that high blood pressure is linked to the development of dementia, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched a $15 million clinical study to explore this connection. The goal of the SPRINT (Systolic blood PRessure INTervention) Trial is to see if agressive treatment of systolic blood pressure down to 120 mm hg will reduce not only cardivascular and renal complications but also cognitive decline. Canadian Press has more on this important study here.