The global dementia population is anticipated to reach 139 million by 2050, up from 55 million in 2020, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International.

While there is no cure for dementia at the moment, mounting research suggests that adopting a balanced lifestyle and cardiovascular health may help delay the onset and alleviate symptoms of dementia.

Now, a new study from Karolinska Institutet reveals that having an increased resting heart rate in later life may be a risk factor for dementia on its own.

The researchers believe that since resting heart rate is straightforward to monitor and may be reduced by exercise or medical treatment, it may assist to identify those at increased risk of dementia for early intervention.

The researchers wanted to see if resting heart rate in 2,147 Stockholm residents aged 60 and up could be associated with dementia and cognitive decline in the absence of other recognized risk factors like cardiovascular illness.

After following volunteers for up to 12 years, the paper found that those with a resting heart rate of 80 beats per minute or more had a 55% higher risk of developing dementia than those with a resting heart rate of 60-69 beats per minute. A relationship with cardiovascular disease remained substantial even after controlling for potential variables.

Although the results may have been skewed by the fact that more patients with cardiovascular illness died during follow-up and so didn’t have time to develop dementia, the researchers caution that the results may have been altered by cardiovascular events that were unreported.

Although the study cannot prove a direct link, the researchers propose numerous probable explanations for the link, including the impact of underlying cardiovascular disorders and risk factors, stiffened arteries, and an imbalance in sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity.

“We believe it would be valuable to explore if resting heart rate could identify patients with high dementia risk,” said Yume Imahori, the lead author of the study.

“If we follow such patients’ cognitive function carefully and intervene early, the onset of dementia might be delayed, which can have a substantial impact on their quality of life.”

Source: 10.1002/alz.12495

Image Credit: iStock

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