A Preventive Neurology Perspective on Promoting Brain Health and Preventing Cardiovascular Disease

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) often coexist with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Shared risk factors and pathologies link NDDs and CVD.
• Midlife cardiovascular risks significantly elevate dementia risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the link between cardiovascular health and cognitive decline.
• To highlight the importance of midlife risk factor management for dementia prevention.
• To propose an integrated, lifespan approach for reducing the burden of NDDs and CVD.

Main Methods:

• Review of overlapping risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, smoking).
• Emphasis on age-specific intervention strategies.
• Integration of genomics, biomarkers, and risk scores for personalized profiling.

Main Results:

• Midlife cardiovascular risks are critical determinants of late-life dementia.
• Effective management requires tailored, age-appropriate interventions.
• Precision profiling enhances risk stratification and targeted prevention.

Conclusions:

• Addressing cardiovascular health in midlife is crucial for preventing NDDs.
• A personalized, lifespan approach integrating various data points offers a promising strategy.
• Reducing the dual burden of CVD and NDDs is achievable through targeted prevention.