What do recent research studies indicate?
Subjects in midlife who had both a high systolic blood pressure and a high serum cholesterol level had an even greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease—between 2.5 and 3.5 times that of those with normal values for both measurements. Even borderline high systolic blood pressure (140-159 mm Hg) proved to have a higher risk. Those who had had circulatory problems during the interval between the two examinations, such as heart attacks or strokes, also had a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. However, patients who consumed alcohol were found to be less likely to get Alzheimer’s. Often the subjects in the study had been treated for high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. The way the study was carried out doesn’t exclude the possibility that treatments for these conditions may have influenced the outcome. Nevertheless, the results were consistent with other studies of elderly Finnish men. An obvious study question is whether the two main risk factors identified (h
