An essential organ may be insightful in assessing risk for two other concerns, says a prestigious research team.
Researchers Just Discovered a New Predictor of Dementia and Stroke
Published on Apr. 29, 2025
Aging is a matter of the mind, but most science makes it clear that with time, health concerns tend to creep in. Dementia and stroke are two conditions that can stir some dread, but new research says your ticker could hint at telltale risk.
The study, published in the March 2025 issue of the journal Stroke, identified the heart as a “strong predictor” of both ischemic stroke and dementia. Ischemic strokes happen when a clot prevents blood flow to the brain, according to the American Stroke Association.
The research team were cardiology doctors and supporting researchers from universities and hospitals such as Harvard, University of Minnesota Medical School, and the University of Pisa in Italy. They followed more than 4,700 adults from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study over the span of eight years. The participants’ average age was 74 years old, and 59% were women.
Within the study’s timeframe, 769 participants developed dementia and 193 experienced ischemic strokes.
In their research, the study’s team looked at “several measurements related to left atrial heart function,” according a University of Minnesota press release. Though a variety of measurements were considered, ultimately two types showed to be significantly impactful in their accuracy when “added to the standard risk assessment tool doctors typically use”:
- How well the heart’s left atrium could stretch/distend
- A protein marker, known as NT-proBNP, that shows up in blood tests
However, “the left atrium’s ability to stretch was the most accurate predictor,” says the press release.
“Our findings suggest doctors could use this measurement to identify patients who are at higher risk and might need closer monitoring or preventive treatment,” said Lin Yee Chen, MD, MS, a cardiac electrophysiologist and professor at the university’s medical school.
Though more than 6 million Americans currently have dementia, health officials estimate that number could double by 2060. Currently, women have a 48% lifetime risk of being diagnosed with dementia while it’s a 35% risk for men.
Additionally, research says around 795,000 Americans experience a stroke each year—with many of them during first-time strokes.
In the future, Dr. Chen and the rest of the team plan to start a clinical trial focused on blood thinners (also known as oral anticoagulants) and whether these medications are available to reduce the risk of both dementia and stroke in individuals with left atrial myopathy, a serious condition that can be associated with certain types of strokes and atrial fibrillation.
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
