About 47 million people suffer from dementia worldwide. A figure which should even reach 66 million in 2030 and 115 million by 2050. To be able to target the factors at play as early as possible, scientists are seeking to detect people at risk even before symptoms develop. During the AHA 2018 conference of the American Heart Association which took place from November 10 to 12 in Chicago (United States), researchers thus affirmed that a five-minute scanner would make it possible to recognize predisposed people.
A higher risk related to the pulse
The international team, led by University College London (UCL), studied the scans of more than 3,000 people for fifteen years. By examining the blood vessels in the neck, they measured the intensity of blood flow traveling to the brain. In parallel, they also monitored participants’ memory and problem-solving ability.
It turned out that people with the strongest pulse at the start of the study were 50% more likely to show signs of accelerated cognitive decline, compared to the rest of the participants. In fact, a more intense pulse can cause damage to small brain vessels, structural changes in the network of blood vessels in the brain, and minor bleeding called “mini strokes.”
Cognitive decline, which is inevitable, is often one of the first signs of dementia. But not everyone who experiences it will necessarily develop disease. For the researchers in charge of the study, this test could provide a new means of identifying those at risk, which would lead to earlier treatments and lifestyle interventions. “Dementia is the end result of decades of damage, so it’s too late for people withsays Dr Scott Chiesa of UCL, relayed by the BBC. What we’re trying to say is act as soon as possible, find a way to identify who is actually slipping into possible dementia and target them. »
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