Most folks are aware that high cholesterol and high blood pressure puts one at risk for a heart attack. But did you know that twenty or thirty years down the road it also could mean the development of dementia, like one sees with Alzheimer’s disease?
The fact is any organ is susceptible to the effects of cardiovascular disease, and that includes the brain. Now, a new study shows that there is a significant risk of dementia if cardiovascular risk factors are not addressed.

“Yeah my mom had cardiovascular history and basically that’s what took her life eventually. My father has had bypass surgery, he’s still alive thank G-d.” Cardiovascular disease runs in Albie Febus’ family. “I have high blood pressure and there are indications that I have a high amount of cholesterol, and I’m currently taking medications for that.”
Albie is at risk for a heart attack, a stroke, and other forms of cardiovascular disease. Now, a new study shows these same risk factors--high cholesterol, high blood pressure, along with mid-life smoking and diabetes in middle age--may also increase significantly the risk of dementia in old age.
Overall, compared to those with no risk factors, those with two of the risk factors were almost one and three-quarters more likely to be diagnosed with dementia; those with three were more than twice as likely; and those with all four risk factors had almost a two and a third greater risk of being diagnosed with dementia.
“It scares me enough to basically figure out why I could be in the risk factor of getting dementia down the line and see what I can do now before anything can develop. I can’t take that lightly so I have to worry about that now,” says Albie.
Cardiologist Robert Ostfeld says, “It is by no means conclusive but there is a growing body of evidence that they healthy lifestyle that we adapt today will protect us decades down the line.”
Having diabetes or high total cholesterol each means around a 45% greater chance of developing dementia. Smoking or high blood pressure each means around a 25% percent greater chance of developing dementia. Overall, anything that increases the chances of blockage of blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the brain can cause dementia, and that’s one reason why alcohol, which raises the good cholesterol and sucks cholesterol out of the blood, prevents dementia.
The researchers argue that treating one’s risk factors for heart disease may also reduce the risk for dementia. The earlier the treatment, the better. “It’s incredibly important to take responsibility and ownership of your health. And again the things that we do today will impact what happens to us 10, 20, 30, years from now,” says Dr. Ostfeld.
Another study just released shows that women who drink in moderation can reduce their risk of developing dementia. Women who reported drinking one or more drinks a day had a 40 percent lower risk of significant declines in cognitive function over time, compared to women who reported no alcohol intake.

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