Diet Influences Likelihood of Dementia Following Stroke

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1999

For more information contact:
Sarah Parsons, (651) 695-2732, [email protected]

Diet Influences Likelihood of Dementia Following Stroke

ST. PAUL, MN ñ Compared with a traditional Asian diet, eating a Western diet appears to protect stroke victims from developing dementia, according to a study published in the July 22 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Western diets are known to include more animal fat, protein and less complex carbohydrates than do most Asian diets.

Vascular dementia, a loss of cognitive functioning and mental ability following stroke, is more prevalent among men who preferred an Asian diet high in complex carbohydrates and low in animal fat and protein.

ìWe found that men who prefer a Western diet with higher levels of animal fat and protein, have a lower risk of developing vascular dementia,î said neurologist and study author Web Ross, MD, of the Department of Veterans Affairs and University of Hawaii in Honolulu. ìWe do not know exactly which nutrients in the Western diet that may cause a protective effect. Currently weíre investigating which nutrient or combination of nutrients may be responsible for this effect.î

The study investigated Japanese-American men, aged 71-93, participating in the Honolulu Heart Program at Kuakini Medical Center, a prospective study of heart disease and stroke initiated in 1965. Researchers compared 68 men with vascular dementia to 106 men with stroke who were not demented and 3,335 men without dementia or stroke.

The most prevalent type of stroke among study participants with vascular dementia was multiple small vessel or lacunar strokes, or strokes where blood flow is blocked in small arterial blood vessels.

ìOthers have hypothesized that eating foods with fat or animal protein may help maintain the health of smaller blood vessels,î said Ross. ìMaintaining healthy blood vessels may reduce the risk of stroke involving small blood vessels and this in turn lowers the risk of developing vascular dementia.î

The study also showed a beneficial effect of anti-oxidants, specifically vitamin E. ìVitamin E has been associated with reducing stroke risk,î Ross said. ìWe found that taking supplementary vitamin E was protective, though only when we compared the group with vascular dementia to the group without stroke or dementia. Therefore, vitamin E may be beneficial in preventing stroke, but we recognized no direct relationship in its ability to prevent vascular dementia following stroke.î

Most importantly, reminded Ross, strokes are preventable with control of risk factors and appropriate medication. ìModifiable risk factors for stroke also contribute to the development of stroke related dementia. Control of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease prevents not only strokes, but stroke related dementia and cognitive impairment as well.î

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia in the United States (following Alzheimerís disease) and the most common cause of dementia in Japan. Those with vascular dementia face the physical impairment related to stroke, such as paralysis, speech and language disturbances, and visual disturbances, in addition to cognitive impairment.

This study was supported by the National Institute on Aging, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 16,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research.

-end-