Key result
Cardiovascular risk factor control shows no proven benefit for dementia prevention in methodologically limited trials.
Why the study?
Does control of cardiovascular risk factors prevent dementia?
Does control of cardiovascular risk factors prevent dementia?
There is currently a lack of definitive evidence from RCTs that treating cardiovascular risk factors prevents dementia, though existing trials have significant limitations.
Should not yet change clinical practice for dementia prevention; leaves open whether better-designed RCTs could demonstrate benefit.
Background and Aim: Although dementia prevalence is increasing worldwide, currently, there are no effective ways for prevention nor optimal treatment for disease control. In this mini-review, we discuss the results of observational studies and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) about the association between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and dementia and future perspectives of studies in this topic.Methods: We briefly described the role of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) on dementia risk and the limitations presented by previous studies. Results: CVRFs have been associated with higher risk of dementia in several longitudinal studies and the control of these factors has been considered a promising way to prevent this dreadful disease. However, the available RCT that investigated the effect of CVRF control on dementia incidence have not confirmed this hypothesis. These RCTs have important limitations (e.g. short follow-up time, initiation of treatment at advanced aged) that do not allow definitive conclusions at this time.Conclusion: Currently, there is lack of evidence that the treatment of CVRF will prevent dementia. Future studies should consider the interdependence of risk factors using new analytical methods.
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Cláudia Kimie Suemoto (2015) conducted a review in Dementia. Cardiovascular risk factor control was evaluated on Dementia incidence. Control of cardiovascular risk factors has not been proven to prevent dementia in current randomized clinical trials, though these studies have significant methodological limitations.
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