Study links poor heart health in black women to cognitive decline in midlife

Study links poor heart health in black women to cognitive decline in midlife

A new study has found that Black women with poor cardiovascular health may be at increased risk for early signs of cognitive decline in midlife.

The study, which is published in theJournal of the American Heart AssociationThis included 363 black and 402 white women aged 42 to 52 who enrolled on the Chicago website of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Cognition (measured as processing speed and working memory) was assessed annually or every two years for a maximum period of 20 years, with an average follow-up of 9.8 years. A composite index of cardiovascular health (Life's Essential 8) was calculated based on blood pressure, body mass index, glucose, cholesterol, smoking, physical activity, diet and sleep.

The question of interest was to determine whether better cardiovascular health was equally associated with less cognitive decline in middle-aged black and white women.

Processing speed, a leading indicator of early cognitive decline, appeared to decline starting in midlife in black women with poorer cardiovascular health, but not in white women. Working memory did not worsen in the entire study group or in groups based on race or cardiovascular health.

The results suggest that promoting cardiovascular health, particularly blood pressure control and smoking cessation, may be important for early prevention of cognitive decline and maintaining independence in old age among black women in midlife. A clinical trial should determine whether optimizing heart health in midlife slows cognitive decline.”

Imke Janssen, PhD, corresponding author, Rush University Medical Center

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