Reduced Heart Function Accelerates Alzheimer’s Brain Atrophy, Study Finds

A long‑term study of 756 adults aged 50 to 92, conducted by Vanderbilt Health and published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, found that lower cardiac output (stroke volume) is linked to faster brain volume loss. Participants with the APOE‑e4 genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s who had reduced heart‑time volume showed greater shrinkage of the temporal and occipital lobes over up to 11 years. The research suggests that subtle heart dysfunction may serve as an early marker for accelerated neurodegeneration in at‑risk individuals.

The findings highlight a potential new avenue for earlier diagnosis and intervention in Alzheimer’s disease, emphasizing the interplay between cardiovascular health and brain aging.