A large systematic review of more than 1 million adults indicates that those with heart disease have a 27% higher risk of developing dementia compared to people without heart disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States and around the world. Traditional risk factors of CVD, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and cigarette smoking, may predispose individuals to Alzheimer’s disease by promotion of amyloid accumulation in the brain and by increasing inflammation.

Dementia prevention will involve avoiding the 3 highs: hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.

• In a study analyzing more than 10 million older adults, individuals with diabetes had a 59% increased risk of developing dementia compared to non-diabetics.

• Studies have shown that untreated hypertension can lead to a 42% increased risk of dementia compared to healthy adults.

• The World Health Organization estimated that 14% of dementia cases worldwide may be caused by cigarette smoking. Overall, current smokers are 30% more likely to develop dementia and 40% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a 2015 analysis of 37 different studies. For every 20 cigarettes per day, the analysis showed dementia risk climbs 34%.