Atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease
The researchers examined 54 autopsy cases and found in that in the cases where Alzheimer's Disease was prevalent there was a significantly increased degree of atherosclerosis or plaque build up in the arteries that lead to the brain.The researchers concluded that:
"an association between severe circle of Willis atherosclerosis and sporadic Alzheimer's Disease should be considered a risk factor for this dementia. Observations strongly suggest that atherosclerosis-induced brain hypoperfusion contributes to the clinical and pathological manifestations of Alzheimer's Disease."
An Association - Not Causation
Obviously these findings do not prove anything one way or another but they do demonstrate the clear association between atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease. Considering Alzheimer's Disease affects predominantly older folk and people are living longer than ever before it is no surprise that the amount of Alzheimer's patients is on the rise. Currently Alzheimer's is the 7th leading killer in America and it's on the rise. I can be rationalized however that treating atherosclerosis as it relates to heart disease and stroke through diet, exercise, and medicine might have some benefit to staving Alzheimer's Disease as well. This however is still speculation and unproven, though it would be healthy and advisable anyway.On a related note this seems to correlate with soda (i.e. sugar) causing increased amyloid plaque deposits in the brain. Sugars after all contribute to increases in insulin which contribute to heart disease which is often caused by arterial afflictions such as atherosclerosis. I'd welcome any thoughts on the subject in the comments. Am I stretching too far on this one or does it make some sense?
Source
Journal of the American Heart Association, Sept. 2003
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