An elevated resting heart rate (RHR) in people aged 60+ may be a risk factor for dementia.
A new study by Swedish scientists at the Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, found individuals aged 60 or older with an elevated RHR have an increased risk of dementia and accelerated cognitive decline – and this relationship was independent of other risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.
The study followed 2,147 participants (mean age 70.6 with 62.5% women) living in Stockholm for up to 12 years, measuring RHR using a standard electrocardiogram and assessing global cognitive function with a mini mental state examination. They also collated data about age, sex, education level, physical activity, smoking status, body mass index and cholesterol levels.
Individuals with RHRs at 80 beats per minute (bpm) or higher had an average 55% higher risk of developing dementia than those with RHRs at 60-69 bpm.
The association between elevated RHR and cognitive decline remained significant even after taking into account current cardiovascular disease, age, sex, education behavioural factors and medications.
The researchers hope that because a person’s RHR can be lowered through exercise and medical treatment – and is also easy to measure – their finding ‘might represent a simple way of identifying people with an increased risk’, reported medicalnewstoday.com.
Lead author Dr Yume Imahori commented: ‘If we follow such patients’ cognitive function carefully and intervene early, the onset of dementia might be delayed, which can have a substantial impact of their quality of life.’
Dr Karen Harrison Dening, head of research at Dementia UK, added: ‘This study reiterates the link between cardiovascular health and brain health; what is good for the heart is good for the brain.
‘Increasing supplies of oxygen to the brain through physical exercise and giving the brain enough nutrients by eating healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, and reducing alcohol intake are ways to mitigate the risk of dementia, particularly vascular dementia.
‘It’s important that these lifestyle factors are started as early as possible in order to receive the most benefits.’
