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Alzheimer's Link to Cardiovascular Disease

Symptoms of Dementia Relationship to Alzheimer Memory Loss

Oct 28, 2009 Bernard P. Nelson

A research institute links Alzheimer's symptoms with coronary artery cardiovascular risks. An Alzheimer foundation links age dementia symptoms with Alzheimer's disease.

According to a Banner Sun Health Research Institute article, “There is considerable epidemiologic [study of disease] evidence that Alzheimer disease (AD) is linked to cardiovascular risk factors...” The article title is “Patients With Alzheimer Disease Have Altered Transmittal Flow: Echocardiographic Analysis of the Vortex Formation Time.”

The research institute article, dated 2009, states that “symptomatic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction [ heart valve chamber pumping blood to artery]" is related to Alzheimer’s disease. A study was conducted, by the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, with 45 participants. Twenty two of these participants had Alzheimer's disease (AD) as diagnosed by American Psychiatric Association’s guidelines. Twenty three same age-matched participants served as the control group with normal cognitive functions.

Alzheimer’s Symptoms vs Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors

An echocardiographic (ultrasound waves showing heart valve action) study was conducted on all participants. The study conclusion was that the Alzheimer group had “impaired transmittal flow efficiency [heart valve pumping]...compared with age-matched control individuals.”

The Banner Sun Health Research Institute article is published on the PubMed website. The Research Institute, a nonprofit biomedical research center located in Sun City, Arizona, engages in research, clinical care, prevention, and education for age-related conditions including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, arthritis and cancer.

Age Dementia Symptoms and Alzheimer Disease Link

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America defines dementia as “...loss of memory, judgment, language, complex motor skills...and other intellectual functions.” Information about the link between dementia and Alzheimer's is in the Alzheimer's Foundation (undated) article article titled, “About Alzheimer's.” The (author unknown) article is published on the Foundation’s website.

Causes of Vascular Dementia

The foundation article states that Alzheimer’s disease can cause dementia, and Alzheimer’s is a common cause of dementia in people over age 65. One of the causes of dementia related to heart disease is vascular dementia, which is a blockage [or dysfunction] of blood affecting the brain. Other forms of dementia can be caused by excess use of alcohol, trauma, and head injuries. A link to more information about dementia is on the foundation's Alzheimer's web page.

The definition of Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, is “a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain’s nerve cells...resulting in loss of memory, thinking, language skills, and behavior.” The brain neurons that produce chemicals breakaway from other cells and die, causing the first symptom of Alzheimer’s, which is loss of short-term memory. When neurons begin to die in the brain’s cerebral cortex, language and judgment begin to decline.

Both the Banner Sun health Research Institute and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America state that Alzheimer's disease is related to cardiovascular and pulmonary artery problems that affect the brain. The Banner institute article states that Alzheimer's can cause dementia due to blood flow problems. The Alzheimer's Foundation states that one of the causes of Alzheimer’s is when a left heart value, providing blood to an artery, is dysfunctional due to causes of heart disease.

The copyright of the article Alzheimer's Link to Cardiovascular Disease in General Medicine is owned by Bernard P. Nelson. Permission to republish Alzheimer's Link to Cardiovascular Disease in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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