Study: Older women with heart problems at risk for vascular dementia

Older women with heart problems may be at greater risk for mental changes that signal a type of dementia.

It’s called vascular dementia, and it’s different from the loss of memory and function that happens with Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers measured the brain functions of elderly people over four years. They found heart problems, including atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease and heart failure, nearly doubled a person’s risk of developing the mild cognitive impairment linked to vascular dementia.

The link was particularly strong in women.

The study is published in the journal JAMA Neurology.