A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) reveals a strong link between cardiovascular diseases and an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Conditions like heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and coronary heart disease can contribute to cognitive decline by impacting brain function. Maintaining heart health from a young age is essential to prevent these cardiovascular diseases, protect brain function, and lower the risk of cognitive decline later in life. While dementia is often seen as untreatable and progressive, evidence suggests that leading a healthy lifestyle and addressing vascular risk factors early on may help preserve cognitive function. Stroke and cognitive decline are chronic and disabling conditions that greatly impact individuals and society.
A study suggests that the blood thinner heparin may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by interfering with harmful protein interactions in the brain, although more research is needed. Heparin, a common anticoagulant used to prevent blood clots, may disrupt interactions between the protein Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and cell surface molecules known as heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). Previous research has shown that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s may be linked to ApoE interactions with HSPGs, with specific genetic variants associated with different risks. Heparin does not enter the brain but may delay Alzheimer’s by disrupting these interactions. The study analyzed medical records from two large health systems, showing that patients who received heparin had a delayed Alzheimer’s diagnosis compared to those who did not.
The study’s findings suggest that heparin therapy was associated with a significant delay in the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s dementia by about 1 year. Researchers looked at electronic health records from two large health systems and found this delay in Alzheimer’s diagnosis among patients who received heparin. The study’s senior author noted that while the findings have no immediate implications for the use of current heparin formulations in Alzheimer’s treatment, they could inform the development of new disease-modifying treatments for the disease. The study focused on a specific group of people with a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s and suggested that blocking ApoE from sticking to HSPG could potentially create new treatments or prevent the disease.
A neurologist not involved in the research cautioned that while it is challenging to claim that a blood-thinning medication could affect Alzheimer’s disease development, these medications might protect against certain types of dementia caused by recurrent strokes. He recommended further studies to determine if heparin use can decrease stroke-related dementias. The study highlights the opportunity to use large electronic health record datasets to evaluate the effects of different drugs in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. This information could support further assessments of potentially repurposed drugs or provide insights into new drug therapies targeting biological changes associated with the disease. More research is needed to determine the potential of heparin as a brain-health-protective drug and its effectiveness in preventing cognitive decline.
In summary, the research on the relationship between cardiovascular diseases, cognitive impairment, and dementia underscores the importance of maintaining heart health to protect brain function and lower the risk of cognitive decline. The study on heparin’s potential to delay Alzheimer’s disease onset by disrupting harmful protein interactions in the brain offers new insights into possible disease-modifying treatments. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and implications of heparin therapy in Alzheimer’s prevention, the findings point to the possibility of developing drugs targeting this process. The use of large electronic health record datasets for evaluating drug effects in Alzheimer’s treatment highlights the potential for future research into new therapeutic approaches for the disease.
