Newsbites: Cardiovascular Health; Heart Health; Weight Loss Strategies
Cardiovascular Health Linked to Transition from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Dementia
A clinical study published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience investigated risk factors in the transition from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. Seventy-six patients ages 57 to 89 diagnosed with MCI were followed for six years. Neurological examinations, laboratory tests, and cognitive and health assessments were conducted every three to six months.
The study found the presence of vascular disease—including high blood pressure, high LDLcholesterol, high triglyceride levels, and coronary artery disease— was the most prominent risk factor in the transition from MCI to dementia. About 94 percent of the participants who developed dementia during the study period had two or more vascular risk factors, versus 29 percent of the patients who had not transitioned to dementia by the end of the study. Other significant risk factors included advancing age and level of education. Most people undergo some degree of cognitive decline as they get older. MCI is more serious than this “age-related” decline in cognition, but it does not meet the criteria for dementia. Not everyone with MCI develops dementia. (While approximately one to two percent of individuals over age 65 develop dementia each year, this rate is about 10 to 15 percent in patients with MCI). To date, no medications have been demonstrated to slow the progression of MCI to dementia. This study adds to the evidence that diet and physical activity patterns that are good for the heart may also be good for brain.
Higher Fruit and Vegetable Intake May Directly Protect the Heart
A study published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that diets rich in fruits and vegetables are associated with decreased signs of heart damage. The study looked for biomarkers of sub-clinical cardiac damage, cardiac strain, and inflammation in blood samples of 326 healthy individuals. The blood samples had been stored from the original DASH diet trials. These randomized controlled studies fed participants either a typical American diet, a diet higher in fruits and vegetables and lower in snacks and sweets, or the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet for eight weeks.
In this new analysis, both the fruit-andvegetable- rich diet and the DASH diet (which also emphasizes fruits and vegetables, along with fat free or low-fat dairy products) were associated with lower subclinical cardiac damage and strain within an 8-week period. No significant association was found between any of the diets and a marker of inflammation.
The four DASH trials, completed in 1996, provided evidence that still forms the basis of dietary guidelines for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prevention. These studies did not, however, indicate whether the observed improvements in CVD risk factors directly protected the heart. The authors of this study concluded that what we eat does impact our cardiac health. They recommend focusing on consuming more fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes and eating fewer snacks and sweets.
Behavioral and Psychological Strategies Help Maintain Weight Loss
A study published recently in the journal Obesity identified specific behavioral and psychological strategies that may help people who have lost weight keep it off. The study surveyed over 4,700 participants in a weight loss program who had maintained a weight loss of at least 20 pounds for more than three years. A group of over 500 weight-stable individuals with obesity served as a control group. The weight loss group reported more frequent, habitual, healthy dietary choices, greater self-monitoring, and the employment of psychological coping strategies. They were also more willing to ignore food cravings. Key strategies included keeping low‐calorie foods accessible, setting daily calorie goals, daily recording of caloric intake, and regularly measuring foods. Specific psychological coping strategies included “thinking about past successes” and “remaining positive in the face of weight regain.” Importantly, people for whom healthy eating became a habit had more success maintaining weight loss.
While this study focused on individuals in one specific weight loss program, these results are in line with other studies which indicate successful weight-loss maintainers generally eat a lower-calorie diet and have higher levels of physical activity, dietary restraint, and selfmonitoring behaviors. Sustaining weight loss has been shown to maintain improvements in cardiometabolic risk facts.
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