Dementia is one of the most common diseases of old age. A healthier lifestyle can prevent some of the cases. Scientists have now discovered that a simple scan can predict whether you are at increased risk for the condition.

A scan to measure bone density also appears to be able to show whether someone has a greater chance of developing dementia later in life. The degree of calcification of the abdominal aorta is a harbinger of the disease. This is apparent from the results of a long-term study by the Australian Edith Cowan University (ECU) in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, among others.

lifeline
The health of 968 women has been monitored for more than 15 years. The arteriosclerosis in the arterial wall of the abdominal aorta was also monitored with a bone density scan. It now appears that people with a higher degree of arteriosclerosis in the lower part of the aorta have a greater chance of developing dementia later in life.

The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the human body. It transports oxygenated blood from the heart to the legs and vital organs in the abdominal area. At birth, the inner wall of an artery is smooth. But over time, the inside can get damaged.

Arteriosclerosis
Inflammation can cause local thickenings, also known as plaque. Over time, it is possible that more and more calcium deposits form in this plaque. This whole process is called arteriosclerosis and ensures that less blood can flow through the artery in those places.

The Australian study found that half of older women had moderate to high levels of arteriosclerosis. These women were twice as likely to be hospitalized or die from dementia. Adjusted for other cardiovascular or genetic factors.

The abdominal aorta. Photo: Tonpor Kasa / Getty Images

Professor Simon Laws of the ECU explains that scanning the aorta for arteriosclerosis is an important step in potentially preventing dementia. In this way preventive measures can be taken.

The link between heart and brain
“It is often said, ‘What’s good for the heart is good for the brain.’ This study confirms this association and gives us more information about dementia risk and possible ways to prevent the disease,” said Laws. “It is important to adjust risk factors, such as diet and amount of exercise, at an early stage. Hopefully the results of this study will give a significant boost in the prevention of dementia.”

The professor explains: “The aortic scans are very useful in assessing the risk of dementia in people who are not genetically predisposed to the disease. Half of the cases of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, are genetically determined.”

A simple test
A scan to measure arteriosclerosis is done in no time. The machines are in every hospital. Hundreds of thousands of bone scans are performed every year to measure the brittleness of the bones of (possible) osteoporosis patients. According to fellow researcher Professor Joshua Lewis, an extra scan with the same medical device is sufficient to map the arteriosclerosis. This can be done during a standard scan for the degree of osteoporosis. “These scans are fast and easy. They are cheaper, do not bother the patient and release much less radiation than X-rays or CT scans,” says Lewis.

“We are already working on the ECU to automate the linking of the scans, so that testing and interpreting the results is even easier and faster. So this is a fast, cheap and safe screening of large numbers of elderly people for possible dementia in the future.”

He believes it is important to start an early conversation with people about their cardiovascular health and lifestyle changes. “I think it’s important to tell people about their scan results. If there is arteriosclerosis and we explain what this means for their health, it can be a motivation to live a healthier life,” said Lewis.