Health conditions in midlife can have a meaningful effect on dementia in older age. Such health conditions are also heart disease risk factors. The good news is that when you know what to watch for, you can make lifestyle and/or medication decisions to decrease your risk of both dementia and heart disease. A 2017 study found a greater chance of developing dementia in men and women with:

• Vascular problems
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Prehypertension (higher blood pressure than normal, but lower than hypertension)
• Cigarette smoking especially with Caucasians

The findings of the study were relevant whether or not a person had a history of stroke. Information comes from a 25-year John Hopkins University study with nearly 16,000 participants. Results were published in the online Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology in August 2017.

Reduce risk for heart disease by paying attention to Life’s Simple 7® from the American Heart Association:

• Manage blood pressure
• Reduce blood sugar
• Control cholesterol
• Eat better
• Get exercise
• Stop smoking
• Manage weight

It’s never too early or too late to get on the path to #HeartHealth!