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Cardiovascular risk factors promote brain hypoperfusion leading to cognitive decline and dementia
de la Torre JC.. Cardiovascular psychiatry and neurology, 2012-12-03
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Heart disease is the major leading cause of death and disability in the world. Mainly affecting the elderly population, heart disease and its main outcome, cardiovascular disease, have become an important risk factor in the development of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This paper examines the evidence linking chronic brain hypoperfusion induced by a variety of cardiovascular deficits in the development of cognitive impairment preceding AD. The evidence indicates a strong association between AD and cardiovascular risk factors, including ApoE(4), atrial fibrillation, thrombotic events, hypertension, hypotension, heart failure, high serum markers of inflammation, coronary artery disease, low cardiac index, and valvular pathology. In elderly people whose cerebral perfusion is already diminished by their advanced age, additional reduction of cerebral blood flow stemming from abnormalities in the heart-brain vascular loop ostensibly increases the probability of developing AD. Evidence also suggests that a neuronal energy crisis brought on by relentless brain hypoperfusion may be responsible for protein synthesis abnormalities that later result in the classic neurodegenerative lesions involving the formation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Insight into how cardiovascular risk factors can induce progressive cognitive impairment offers an enhanced understanding of the multifactorial pathophysiology characterizing AD and ways at preventing or managing the cardiovascular precursors of this dementia.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
de la Torre, J. C. (2012). Cardiovascular risk factors promote brain hypoperfusion leading to cognitive decline and dementia. Cardiovascular psychiatry and neurology. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/367516
Vancouver
de la Torre JC. Cardiovascular risk factors promote brain hypoperfusion leading to cognitive decline and dementia. Cardiovascular psychiatry and neurology. 2012. doi:10.1155/2012/367516. PMID: 23243502.
BibTeX
@article{delatorre2012-23243502,
author = {de la Torre, J. C.},
title = {{Cardiovascular risk factors promote brain hypoperfusion leading to cognitive decline and dementia}},
journal = {Cardiovascular psychiatry and neurology},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1155/2012/367516},
pmid = {23243502},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/367516}
}
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Key findings
- Evidence also suggests that a neuronal energy crisis brought on by relentless brain hypoperfusion may be responsible for protein synthesis abnormalities that later result in the classic neurodegenerative lesions involving the formation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Why it matters
This paper reviews evidence linking cardiovascular risk factors and chronic brain hypoperfusion to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, and suggests a neuronal energy crisis may lead to amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. It offers insight into possible mechanisms but no proven treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
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 (Cardiovascular psychiatry and neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Cardiovascular Psychiatry and Neurology: journal h-index 36 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2012 — 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 440 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 27.5 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 18.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 23 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 76 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Jack C. de la Torre: h-index 28 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Texas at Austin: institution h-index 1,251 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 23243502) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1155/2012/367516
- PubMed: 23243502
- Original source →
- Free full text: Cardiovascular Psychiatry and Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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