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Cardiovascular risk factors and dementia
Fillit H, Nash DT, Rundek T, Zuckerman A.. The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy, 2008-06-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Dementias, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia, are disorders of aging populations and represent a significant economic burden. Evidence is accumulating to suggest that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may be instrumental in the development of dementia. Objective The goal of this review was to discuss the relationship between specific CVD risk factors and dementia and how current treatment strategies for dementia should focus on reducing CVD risks. Methods We conducted a review of the literature for the simultaneous presence of 2 major topics, cardiovascular risk factors and dementia (eg, AD). Special emphasis was placed on clinical outcome studies examining the effects of treatments of pharmacologically modifiable CVD risk factors on dementia and cognitive impairment. Results Lifestyle risk factors for CVD, such as obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, and certain psychosocial factors, have been associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Some evidence suggests that effectively managing these factors may prevent cognitive decline/dementia. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials of antihypertensive medications have found that such therapy may reduce the risk of cognitive decline, and limited data suggest a benefit for patients with AD. Some small open-label and randomized clinical trials of statins have observed positive effects on cognitive function; larger studies of statins in patients with AD are ongoing. Although more research is needed, current evidence indicates an association between CVD risk factors--such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus--and cognitive decline/dementia. Conclusions From a clinical perspective, these data further support the rationale for physicians to provide effective management of CVD risk factors and for patients to be compliant with such recommendations to possibly prevent cognitive decline/dementia.
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APA 7th
Fillit, H., Nash, D. T., Rundek, T., & Zuckerman, A. (2008). Cardiovascular risk factors and dementia. The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjopharm.2008.06.004
Vancouver
Fillit H, Nash DT, Rundek T, Zuckerman A. Cardiovascular risk factors and dementia. The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy. 2008. doi:10.1016/j.amjopharm.2008.06.004. PMID: 18675769.
BibTeX
@article{fillit2008-18675769,
author = {Fillit, H. and Nash, D. T. and Rundek, T. and Zuckerman, A.},
title = {{Cardiovascular risk factors and dementia}},
journal = {The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1016/j.amjopharm.2008.06.004},
pmid = {18675769},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjopharm.2008.06.004}
}
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Key findings
- Background Dementias, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia, are disorders of aging populations and represent a significant economic burden.
- Evidence is accumulating to suggest that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may be instrumental in the development of dementia.
- Results Lifestyle risk factors for CVD, such as obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, and certain psychosocial factors, have been associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
- Some evidence suggests that effectively managing these factors may prevent cognitive decline/dementia.
Why it matters
This review reports that lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, and smoking are associated with increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia, and that managing these factors may prevent cognitive decline. It notes that randomized trials of antihypertensives suggest such therapy may reduce cognitive decline risk, with limited data suggesting benefit in Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designopen-label trial
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy: journal h-index 73 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | Design recorded as “open-label trial”, which our rubric does not rank (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 225 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.2 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 10 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 26 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Andrea L. Zuckerman: h-index 20 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Miami: institution h-index 998 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18675769) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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