2004 Investigator-Initiated Research Grant

In recent years, a growing body of evidence has suggested that risk factors for heart disease and stroke—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high-fat diets—may also increase an individual’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. These findings have driven efforts to determine if modifying these factors with diet, exercise and treatment may lower risk.

Hilkka Soininen, M.D., Ph.D, and colleagues are reevaluating the health, cognitive and lifestyle status of individuals in an ongoing cardiovascular health study in Finland. Assessments were conducted in 1972, 1977, 1982, and 1987. In 1998, participants were assessed for memory and thinking impairments. Among the more than 1,400 people age 65 to 79, about 4 percent had dementia and about 6 percent had mild cognitive impairment.

In this follow-up study, participants will be assessed for cognitive impairment, cardiovascular and lifestyle factors, and genes associated with a risk for Alzheimer’s. Brain imaging will be done for each participant as well.

The investigators will analyze the past and current data for associations between dementia and various factors: (1) midlife cardiovascular health; (2) blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications; and (3) lifestyle factors, such as fat intake, exercise, and smoking. They will also assess possible interactions among cardiovascular factors, genetic factors and disease, as well as these factors and structural brain changes.

The outcome of this work may clarify complex associations that have been observed in other studies and identify next steps in evaluating the preventive value of modifiable factors.