Scientists discovered that people who suffer from diabetes or high blood pressure in mid-life are more likely to develop the debilitating brain condition as they age.

But those who lead healthier lifestyles are less likely to suffer from dementia, they said.

The wide-ranging study, funded by Americas National Institutes of Health, looked at more than 15,000 people over 25 years.

It found that of 1,516 participants who went on to be diagnosed with dementia, a high proportion had suffered from either diabetes or high blood pressure.

Dr Walter Koroshetz, director of the NIHs Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, said: This study supports the importance of controlling vascular risk factors like high blood pressure early in life in an effort to prevent dementia as we age. Whats good for the heart is good for the brain.

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We often hear the old adage that what is good for the heart is good for the head

Dr David Reynolds

Around 820,000 people suffer from dementia in Britain, costing some 26billion a year.

The figures are also rising rapidly as the population ages.

Last night research bodies in the UK welcomed the study, led by Dr Rebecca Gottesman.

Dr David Reynolds, chief scientific officer at Alzheimers Research UK, said: We often hear the old adage that what is good for the heart is good for the head, and this is backed up by a growing body of evidence.

By following a diverse group of Americans over a long period, these researchers have highlighted factors in mid-life that may contribute to the risk of dementia in later life, although observational studies such as this do not tell us about cause and effect.

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Dr Reynolds added: As our knowledge grows around the links between lifestyle factors and dementia risk, it is important we understand how best to support people in making and maintaining positive lifestyle changes.

Alzheimers Research UK is investing over 2million in a Prevention and Risk Reduction Fund, supporting studies that will help pinpoint the most effective strategies for reducing dementia risk.

While we know there are positive lifestyle changes that can impact dementia risk, its important to remember that dementia is caused by complex brain diseases influenced by age, lifestyle and genetics.

But he warned: Although adopting a healthy lifestyle may make our brains more resilient, we currently cannot prevent the onset of dementia.

Scientists conducting the new study initially found the chances of dementia increased most strongly with age and the second most common influence was the presence of APOE4 a gene associated with Alzheimers.

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An analysis of vascular risk factors then revealed participants who had diabetes or high blood pressure, also called hypertension, had a higher chance of developing dementia.

The researchers found diabetes was almost as strong a predictor of dementia as the presence of the APOE4 gene.

They also discovered a link between dementia and prehypertension, a condition in which blood pressure levels are higher than normal but lower than hypertension. They said vascular diseases increased the risk in both white and black participants, while smoking exclusively increased the chances of dementia for white people.

Dr Gottesman explained: Our results contribute to a growing body of evidence linking mid-life vascular health to dementia. These are modifiable risk factors. Our hope is that by addressing these types of factors early, people can reduce the chances that they will suffer from dementia later in life.

The scientists then answered the question of whether having a stroke, which is also associated with the presence of vascular risk factors, may be the reason for the results.

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But they found diabetes, hypertension, prehypertension and smoking increased the risk of dementia for both stroke-free participants and those who had a stroke.

Dr Jacqueline Wright, director at the NIHs National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, said the study called Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) is a powerful source of information for medical research because it spans many years of data from a large and diverse population.

She added: This epidemiologic study aimed to improve our understanding of atherosclerosis and heart disease and, through the investigators efforts.

It has become a great resource for research on dementia and other diseases of ageing.

The investments in longitudinal cohort studies like ARIC will benefit all of us for many years to come.

Dr Gottesman said she and her team now plan to investigate ways in which undiagnosed vascular problems may influence the brain and why race is associated with dementia.

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