Despite Lifestyle Efforts, Cognitive Decline Risk Remains for Some
A recent study challenges the widely held belief that managing cardiovascular risk factors, such as through exercise and medication, guarantees improved cognitive function in older adults. The research, conducted by a team at the University of Texas and other institutions, suggests that while lifestyle interventions can successfully improve cardiovascular health, they may not necessarily translate into better cognitive performance. This finding has implications for public health strategies aimed at preventing dementia, a growing concern worldwide.
The multi-center, randomized clinical trial, known as rrAD (Risk Reduction for Alzheimer’s Disease), followed 513 individuals aged 60 to 85 for 24 months. Participants, who were at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, had at least one of the following: a family history of dementia, subjective cognitive decline, or hypertension. The study, carried out between 2017 and 2022 across four clinical centers in the United States, evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise, intensive vascular risk factor management (IRVR), a combination of both, and a general control group.
Researchers found that none of the intervention groups – exercise alone, IRVR alone, or the combination – demonstrated statistically significant improvements in cognitive function compared to the control group. However, the IRVR group experienced a notable reduction in LDL cholesterol levels, decreasing by 23.7 mg/dL, compared to a 7.2 mg/dL reduction in the control group. This indicates that the vascular risk factor management was effective, but the resulting improvements didn’t translate into cognitive benefits.
“Exercise and medication were not associated with statistically significant results… only improvements in cardiovascular indicators were confirmed,” researchers stated. Participants maintained a high level of adherence to the exercise programs throughout the study.
The findings contrast with previous research suggesting that managing modifiable cardiovascular risk factors could delay cognitive decline. Experts suggest that intervening earlier in life, during midlife, may yield different results. 디멘시아뉴스 reports that the study prompts a reevaluation of current strategies for dementia prevention.
Separate research highlights the importance of managing cholesterol and blood pressure for brain health. According to a study of over 1.8 million people in the UK, individuals with LDL cholesterol levels exceeding 190 mg/dL before age 65 had a 59% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those with levels below 100 mg/dL. 헬스조선 notes that for every 40 mg/dL increase in LDL cholesterol, the risk of dementia increased by 5%.
The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies hypertension as a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s disease. A Korean study involving approximately 430,000 individuals found that adults with a systolic blood pressure exceeding 120 mmHg had an increased risk of dementia, with a 22% and 8% increase in risk for those aged 40-59 and 60-69, respectively.
a study published in Nature Medicine on April 20, 2025, found that treating high blood pressure through medication, home blood pressure monitoring, weight management, and dietary salt reduction could reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment by 15% or more. 연합뉴스 reports that the research involved over 34,000 patients over a four-year period. The findings underscore the importance of intensive blood pressure control for potentially mitigating the global burden of dementia.
