Chances are you have a relative suffering from heart disease or Alzheimer's right now. If not, you may have had someone in your past that did. Heart disease and Alzheimer's disease are two of the most prominent medical problems in the adult community. New studies suggest that you may actually be able to lower the risk of one while lowering the risk of another the other. Treating issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes may actually prevent your mind from slipping into Alzheimer's over time. This revolutionary idea could be the solution you have been looking for.
Researchers say that the reason why these treatments can prevent cognition issues is because they allow for healthy blood vessels. They may not be fool proof prevention methods, but they can certainly reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as you age. This study occurred in China and was published in "Neurology," a leading medical journal in Asia. It was meant to point out some of the factors in Alzheimer's disease that are not related to age or genetics and can therefore be altered as needed.
The study followed 638 men and women over the age of 55 for a period of five years. Conducted at Daping Hospital, this study involved a set of people who had mild cognitive impairment, an issue that later develops into Alzheimer's disease in 10% to 15% of all cases. Of the participants in the study, nearly half went on to develop Alzheimer's disease and the symptoms of dementia associated with it. Those who had conditions consistent with heart disease were twice as likely to develop serious cognition issues. That is a significant difference, and one that will notably be monitored in the future.
Simple treatments for hypertension, high blood pressure, and the like seemed to significantly improve the participants' chances of avoiding Alzheimer's. 39% of those treated with medication were less likely to develop Alzheimer's after the study was completed. 26% of those treated for only one of the risk factors still became less likely to develop Alzheimer's. This is the first study on record to actually show a link between Alzheimer's and blood vessel health, but it will likely set a precedent for treatments to come. Medical professionals have always suspected a link between the two, but this study provides proof of that.
Before this study can actually yield treatment solutions, researchers will need to conduct a series of randomized studies to be certain. This will have to happen throughout several countries to ensure that the results are accurate. The results should be the same in a non-Chinese population, especially in areas of the world like America where heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and the like are all common occurrences. If the same conclusions are drawn in every case, it should be safe to say that the findings will inevitably have an impact on the way people prevent Alzheimer's in the future. Until that study is conducted though, we will have to make assumptions about the options.
If you are going to college to learn how to become a medical examiner, information like this may help you with your patients in the future. Not only does it show the wonder of the human body, but it shows how much medical aid we truly have at our fingertips. Finding alternative medicines is easy. Putting them to good use is something totally different. Do some research into other studies like this and see if there is anything out there that truly fascinates you.
Researchers say that the reason why these treatments can prevent cognition issues is because they allow for healthy blood vessels. They may not be fool proof prevention methods, but they can certainly reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease as you age. This study occurred in China and was published in "Neurology," a leading medical journal in Asia. It was meant to point out some of the factors in Alzheimer's disease that are not related to age or genetics and can therefore be altered as needed.
Simple treatments for hypertension, high blood pressure, and the like seemed to significantly improve the participants' chances of avoiding Alzheimer's. 39% of those treated with medication were less likely to develop Alzheimer's after the study was completed. 26% of those treated for only one of the risk factors still became less likely to develop Alzheimer's. This is the first study on record to actually show a link between Alzheimer's and blood vessel health, but it will likely set a precedent for treatments to come. Medical professionals have always suspected a link between the two, but this study provides proof of that.
Before this study can actually yield treatment solutions, researchers will need to conduct a series of randomized studies to be certain. This will have to happen throughout several countries to ensure that the results are accurate. The results should be the same in a non-Chinese population, especially in areas of the world like America where heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and the like are all common occurrences. If the same conclusions are drawn in every case, it should be safe to say that the findings will inevitably have an impact on the way people prevent Alzheimer's in the future. Until that study is conducted though, we will have to make assumptions about the options.
If you are going to college to learn how to become a medical examiner, information like this may help you with your patients in the future. Not only does it show the wonder of the human body, but it shows how much medical aid we truly have at our fingertips. Finding alternative medicines is easy. Putting them to good use is something totally different. Do some research into other studies like this and see if there is anything out there that truly fascinates you.
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