Stroke Prevention May Also Reduce Dementia

A study, led by Vladimir Hachinski, from The University of Western Ontario in London, has found evidence that stroke prevention measures may also decrease dementia or delay its onset, reports the London Free Press.

Ontario has been working to improve stroke prevention over the past seven years through a partnership between researchers and health care practitioners.  Stroke and dementia share a number of the same risk factors but through better education and changes in lifestyle including a healthy diet, regular exercise, smoking cessation and reduced alcohol use, the number of deaths and disabilities can be significantly lowered.

Heart and Stroke Foundation research has found that older adults who are physically active are 40 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease than those who are inactive. The foundation also reports that more than 60 per cent of Canadian adults are overweight, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

Stroke is the second most common cause of dementia, according to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.  A study of 102 elderly nuns showed that those who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and also had small strokes were more far more likely to have dementia than those with Alzheimer’s alone.

Hachinski, on behalf of the World Stroke Organization, has published a proclamation for World Stroke Day (October 29) outlining his findings about stroke and dementia in the International Journal of Stroke.  To read the full publication, visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1111/ijs.12638/ .

To learn more about the connection between stroke and dementia visit the Alzheimer’ Society of Canada at: http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/on/About-dementia/Dementias/Vascular-Dementia/Stroke.