Important News
University of Vermont study finds new way to detect dementia before symptoms start
Researchers from the University of Vermont have just published a study outlining a new way to detect dementia, years before symptoms start.
Using a new form of blood test, researchers can detect biological markers of cognitive decline more than 10 years before a person ever shows symptoms of dementia. They used participants who have been a part of related studies for more than 20 years, giving researchers good insight into their health status for the study.
Improving stroke risk prediction in atrial fibrillation with circulating biomarkers
A study using data from the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study found that certain circulating biomarkers were associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke in adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were already taking anticoagulant medications . These biomarkers included NT-proBNP, factor VIII, and D-dimer, which are related to cardiac strain, coagulation, and inflammation, respectively. A combination of these biomarkers may offer a way to better predict a patient's risk of stroke despite being on anticoagulation therapy.
Delaying onset of high blood pressure can lower stroke risk, study shows
Nearly half of adults in the United States have hypertension, or high blood pressure, which is the leading risk factor for stroke. While the link between hypertension and stroke risk is well studied, little is known about how long someone’s having hypertension affects these risks.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham evaluated the association of hypertension duration on the management of hypertension and stroke risk. Results, published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke, found an increased risk of stroke and a need for more classes of antihypertension medications the longer one has high blood pressure.
- REGARDS study secures NIH funding for another five years, expands research on stroke and brain health risks
- Cognitive decline reduced by MIND diet, especially for women and Black people, study finds
- Cognitive decline rate after a mini stroke is the same as a full stroke, UAB
- "Association of Duration of Recognized Hypertension and Stroke Risk: The REGARDS Study"