Heart Condition and Memory Loss

A study previously released by Johns Hopkins University indicates that Alzheimer's
disease might progress at a more rapid pace in those who have high blood
pressure or atrial fibrillation and the findings suggest it might prove that
treating these conditions might also slow down the progression of memory loss in
AD patients.

The current course of treatments for Alzheimer's disease does result in slowing
the rate in some patients, but not in others and there are some who cannot
tolerate them at all. While the treatments for high blood pressure and atrial
fibrillation are relatively inexpensive and safer.

There were 135 men and women in the study, all over the age of 65 and had just
been diagnosed with AD. Also, all of them had taken memory tests yearly for an
average of 3 years.

Those who had high blood pressure, which they describe as having a systolic
pressure over 160 at the time of their diagnosis, had a memory rate loss that
was about 100 times faster than the participants with normal blood pressure.
Also 10 of the patients who had atrial fibrillation when they were diagnosed had
a rate of decline that was 75% faster.

One thing that is different with this group as compared to others is the fact
that the researchers have been following them for more than 10 years, which goes
back to before they were even diagnosed, so they have a very complete picture of
their medical history. Other studies enroll patients only from clinics and they
do not have as much background information as a basis.

The researchers are currently doing similar tests with larger sample sizes in
order to get a better understanding of the role that these factors play before a
diagnosis of AD is made as well as their roll as the disease progresses.