Vascular damage can be caused by a lot of midlife risk factors, like hypertension, diabetes, weight problems and smoking. In the long run, a decrease in brain volume and cognitive function will take place. This is according to a study conducted by expert researchers from the UC Davis.
Dr. Charles DeCarli, director of the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center and neurology professor of the UC Davis School of Medicine, explained that the new study clearly determines the risk factors in middle age associated with dementia. Furthermore, the study emphasized the uses of health screening for high-risk people, and the importance of lifestyle changes to prevent anything serious.
To conduct the study, the researchers gathered participants in the Framingham Offspring Cohort Study, where they studied the relationships between risk factors during the middle age and predictors of brain aging. The average age of the subjects was 54 years old. The subjects were followed and observed since the year 1978, to determine the presence of vascular risk factors and assess the body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and blood glucose. They based their observations on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
Based on the MRI results, the researchers found out that individuals with hypertension, diabetes, weight problems and smoking habits are more likely to develop white matter areas in the brain, which are associated with vascular damage.
Vascular damage can cause many life-threatening complications, mainly affecting the nervous system. Health care professionals always advise regular health screening tests for high-risk groups, such as the elderly, to determine any abnormalities whilst still in the early stage.
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