The link between heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease

Support the cardiac health of your older patients with a balanced diet, regular exercise and chiropractic adjustments to reduce inflammation and the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s

What are the two most serious health problems facing your older patients, aside from musculoskeletal issues? If you answered either heart disease or Alzheimer’s disease, you are likely not alone, as both conditions have a high prevalence among the older population. Although there has been a substantial body of research done on heart disease and Alzheimer’s, in terms of cause, treatment and prevalence, they are often seen as entirely separate entities, with no connection to each other.

Recently, however, there have been some intriguing findings showing that there may actually be a connection between heart disease and certain brain issues that could result in Alzheimer’s disease. Read further to find out more about how you can help your older patients protect themselves against both of these serious illnesses.

Heart disease and dementia statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., regardless of gender. Heart disease is responsible for 655,000 deaths annually, or approximately 25% of all deaths each year. It also exacts a costly financial toll, ringing up almost $220 billion in both health care costs (including medication, doctor visits, and treatment) and lost productivity, just between 2014 and 2015.^1,2

More than 6 million Americans, age 65 and older, are estimated to be living with dementia as a result of brain changes from Alzheimer’s disease.³ This represents 11.3% of the total U.S. population or one out of every nine people aged 65 and older. Furthermore, 72% of those more than 6 million Americans are age 75 or older.

How are heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease related?

Atherosclerosis, or hardening and narrowing of the major arteries, is one of the main pathologies associated with heart disease, and can affect up to 60% of those over age 55. The condition can affect arteries in many areas of the body, including those that supply the brain.

As these cerebral arteries narrow, the brain does not receive enough blood for proper activity, which may induce changes leading to dementia. Interestingly, these changes often occurs later in life, which may help explain the sharp increase in prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease for those age 75 or older, as mentioned previously.^3-5

Mouse models for atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease

An article in the journal eLife from earlier this year showed results from a study using mouse models to directly observe changes in the brain from progression of atherosclerosis.⁶ For this study, researchers used mice that were specially bred for a genetic predisposition toward both diseases.

In looking at brain images taken of the mice once they began showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers noticed there was less blood flow to the brain, resulting is less of the type of brain activity that could lead to dementia. Additionally, the mice also showed a build-up of the β -amyloid protein, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. An excess amount of this protein may increase the amount of the pro-inflammatory interleukin-1β (IL1β) gene in the brain, which may trigger the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.⁶

The take-home message for you is to support the cardiac health of your older patients with a balanced diet, regular exercise and chiropractic adjustments to reduce inflammation and the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Of course, you should pay particular attention to those of your patients age 65 or older. Helping them lead a wellness lifestyle can do wonders for both their heart and mind.

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