A recent study found that Black women with heart health issues may experience earlier cognitive decline compared to white women. Conducted over a 20-year period, researchers assessed cognitive function in 765 women enrolled in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. While working memory did not decline in either group, processing speed declined in Black women during midlife. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggests that poor cardiovascular health in Black women may increase the risk of early cognitive decline.
The researchers measured cardiovascular health based on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 checklist, which includes factors such as blood pressure, body mass index, glucose, cholesterol, smoking, physical activity, diet, and sleep. Dr. José Morales, a vascular neurologist, emphasized the importance of addressing these risk factors early to prevent cognitive decline. While the study controlled for differences in baseline demographic data, Morales noted that drawing conclusions based on phenotypic racial differences alone may overlook other contributing factors.
The study aimed to determine whether better cardiovascular health was associated with less cognitive decline in midlife women, regardless of race. The findings revealed that Black women with lower heart health experienced declines in processing speed, driven primarily by high rates of hypertension and smoking in this subgroup. Janssen, a professor at Rush University Medical Center, explained that optimizing cardiovascular health in midlife Black women could potentially slow cognitive aging and reduce the risk of dementia.
Janssen also highlighted the need for further research to confirm the link between cardiovascular health and cognitive function, particularly working memory. She suggested that improvements in cardiovascular health could potentially improve cognitive health and reduce racial disparities in dementia risk. Morales agreed, emphasizing the importance of robust studies that can accurately measure differences in working memory without the confounding effects of practice assessments. Future research may help clarify the relationship between cardiovascular health, cognitive decline, and racial disparities in cognitive aging.
The study’s findings suggest that addressing cardiovascular health in midlife Black women could potentially mitigate cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia. By optimizing cardiovascular health and addressing risk factors such as hypertension and smoking, it may be possible to slow cognitive aging and improve overall cognitive function. Janssen emphasized the need for clinical studies to explore the impact of cardiovascular health improvements on cognitive health, highlighting the potential for reducing racial inequalities in dementia risk. Future research may shed light on the mechanisms underlying the relationship between cardiovascular health and cognitive function in Black women.
