Black Women With Cardiovascular Issues Linked to Earlier Cognitive Decline

Black women with heart health issues may struggle with cognitive decline at younger ages, according to a newly released study. 

Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study examined the information of approximately 363 Black women and 402 white women. To conduct the study, the researchers focused on the working memory of the women- none of whom had any issues regarding heart health at the beginning of the project.

Throughout the course of 20 years, cognition assessments were conducted almost yearly, with a follow-up average of approximately 10 years. 

In their results, the researchers reported that the speed of mental processing generally declined when Black women had cardiovascular health issues, whereas it did not for white women; the working memory didn’t have a relationship regardless of whether the women had lower cardiovascular health. 

Amongst the middle-aged Black women who had better cardiovascular health, they were less likely to show a decline in cognitive function. 

“Take care of your heart, and it will benefit your brain,” said study lead author Imke Janssen, Ph.D., a professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, per the American Heart Association. “Better cardiovascular health in women in their 40s is important to prevent later-life Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and to maintain independent living.”

Previous studies have highlighted the increased risk that Black women have for developing cognitive health issues. 

Per the SIU School of Medicine, overall, women are twice as likely to develop dementia when compared to men. Meanwhile, Black adults are two to three times more likely to develop the mental disease, thereby putting Black women at a significant risk when it comes to developing Alzheimer’s.

Amongst all Black adults, 14% have already been diagnosed with the disease with many still remaining undiagnosed. The percentage is expected to grow by four times by 2060. 

Racism has been found as a contributor to these higher rates amongst Black Americans overall. In a report by the Alzheimer’s Association, amongst 1,000 middle-aged adults who took part in the study, Black people with more experiences of racism were found to have lower scores in memory testing. 

“The problem is most people do not recognize that racism impacts all areas of our life such as the extended trauma seen in this study,” said the Rev. Miriam J. Burnett, the medical director at the African Methodist Episcopal Church International Health Commission. “This includes lack of access to quality care for our physical and mental health.”