Risk factors for stroke and cognitive disorders

High blood pressure and other risk factors for stroke also increase the likelihood of developing cognitive neurological disorders, including those people who did not suffer from a stroke.

New study once again confirms the importance of timely treatment (prevention) of diseases that can lead to various damage of the cerebral vessels. The study had been conducted in the USA since 2003. In total it researched more than 30 000 people, thus being one of the largest studies of cerebrovascular pathologies and stroke.

Stroke results when blood vessels located in the brain rupture or become blocked.A stroke has many complications, many of which cardinally change the lifestyle of a person (memory loss, speech disorders, motor disorders etc). Researchers have also found that the development of degenerative processes in the vascular system is dangerous not only because of a stroke, but also because of other potential neurological disorders.

The Study

24,000 people who were in the risk group and who did not suffer from a stroke were examined to determine the risk. Initially a coefficient was calculated for each person that reflected the degree of risk . This coefficient was based on various parameters, including age, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and other factors. Also, all participants of the study did a memory test (after some time they had to repeat the year, month and day, as well as 3 objects from a certain list). This test was conducted annually and the observation of patients lasted on average about 4 years.

Such timing made it possible to get an idea of the dynamics of the degenerative processes. Based on this data, scientists were able, not only to associate neurologic abnormalities with concomitant diseases, but also to understand how predictable the nature of degenerative changes is.

The most distinct risk factors were age and hypertrophy of the left ventricular wall. With each 10 years that pass, the risk of developing cognitive impairment and stroke in patients with ventricular hypertrophy doubles. With other equal conditions, the presence of diseases increases the risk by 30%. Since hypertension can cause hypertrophy of the left ventricular, a comparative analysis of blood pressure and the likelihood of neurological disorders was performed among patients with hypertrophy of the left ventricular wall. Researches found that an increase in pressure by 10 mm HG. increases the risk by 4%.

Additionally to finding differences of the risk in people with predisposing diseases, it had also been found that a more educated population has a lower risk of developing cognitive disorders (quantitative characteristics were not determined).

Other than cognitive disorders, there was also an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease which has similar risk factors including high blood pressure.

Also see other articles on this topic:

• Antioxidants against stroke
• Restoration of reading and treatment of dyslexia
• Memory training after a stroke

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