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. 2013 Apr 26:5:135-45.
doi: 10.2147/CLEP.S30621. Print 2013.

Heart disease as a risk factor for dementia

B Ng Justin  1 , Michele Turek, Antoine M Hakim
Affiliations

Heart disease as a risk factor for dementia

B Ng Justin et al. Clin Epidemiol. .

Abstract

As life expectancy lengthens, dementia is becoming a significant human condition in terms of its prevalence and cost to society worldwide. It is important in that context to understand the preventable and treatable causes of dementia. This article exposes the link between dementia and heart disease in all its forms, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, valvular disease, and heart failure. This article also explores the cardiovascular risk factors and emphasizes that several of them are preventable and treatable. In addition to medical therapies, the lifestyle changes that may be useful in retarding the onset of dementia are also summarized.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; atrial fibrillation; cardiovascular risk factors; coronary artery disease; heart failure; myocardial infarction; prevention; valvular disease.

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