Treatable Cause of Dementia Uncovered

A new study has uncovered a relationship between dementia and cerebral emboli which will help prevent dementia. Cerebral emboli are tiny blood clots which travel from the heart and lodge in a vessel in the brain.

The study examined 170 patients with dementia (85 with Alzheimer’s disease and 85 with vascular dementia), and 150 otherwise healthy older people.

It found spontaneous blood clot rates of 40% and 37% in the Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia patients. This compared to just 14% in the healthy people. Spontaneous cerebral emboli are associated with increased risk of stroke and thought or learning impairment in patients having carotid or cardiac surgery.

The study concluded that cerebral emboli were more frequent in both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia patients. This finding is a significant leap in preventing and treating dementia.

Remember: It is important to maintain regular checks with your GP.

Source: The British Medical Journal 28 April 2006 http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/rapidpdf/bmj.38814.696493.AEv1