According to research, middle-aged women suffering from heart disease experience a greater decline in thinking and memory than their male counterparts.
Even though heart conditions, strokes and diabetes are more common in men, the US researchers found this.
Scientists from Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic analysed 1 857 people without dementia, who were between 50 and 69 when the study began.
Seventy nine percent of these people had at least one risk factor or cardiovascular condition.
According to research, middle-aged women suffering from heart disease experience a greater decline in thinking and memory than their male counterparts. Even though heart diseases, strokes, diabetes, and high blood pressure are more common in men, US researchers found this (stock pic).
The participants were tested for their memory, spatial and executive functions over three years.
Women had a more severe cognitive decline than men due to heart disease.
This study, published in Neurology journal, found that only women had lower language scores due to diabetes, heart disease, and high blood fat levels.
Michelle Mielke, study author said that while midlife risk factors and cardiovascular disease were linked to cognitive decline in midlife, the relationship is stronger among women.
“Specifically, we discovered that some cardiovascular conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and dyslipidemia had stronger links with cognitive decline among women than in men.
The researchers wrote in Neurology that further research is required to determine why men and women are affected differently.
Study author Michelle Mielke said: ‘Our results show that midlife cardiovascular conditions and risk factors were associated with midlife cognitive decline, but the association is stronger for women.’
Studies in the past have shown that this could be related to hormonal, genetic, and lifestyle factors, or even structural brain development.
While the team cautioned that their research does not support the notion of middle-aged women at high risk for cardiovascular disease developing cognitive decline, they did find an association.
They added that middle-aged women especially with certain cardiovascular risk factors or conditions may be critical subgroups to monitor early.
Conditions that cause narrowing or blocking of blood vessels can result in heart disease. This could lead to angina, strokes, and even heart attacks.
The condition is the number one killer of females in the UK. There are more than 3 million affected women.