To watch almost anything on network television involves having to be exposed to commercials that hype up a particular disease and, of course, its “cure” (through that particular medication alone!). You might not even realize such a disease existed until you saw the commercial, but now you wonder if some random symptoms you have should send you scrambling to the nearest clinic.
In no area of television advertising is there as much hype about medications as in those that are marketed to stave off Alzheimer’s disease. Yet, research shows that these medications have not only potentially deadly side effects but also limited efficacy. This doesn’t stop the ads from airing, nor from leading people to think they might need them.
What’s Really Going on in the Brain
Although it is true that some forms of dementia reflect the progressive development of Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain, diagnosis of this specific disease is far from an exact science. Instead, some loss of memory in later life may have an entirely different cause.
Many forms of heart disease are linked to the accumulation of plaque (fatty, calcified deposits). The same blockage of arteries that results from plaque accumulation in the body can also affect the arteries feeding the brain. Without adequate blood supply, parts of the brain can suffer irreversible damage. Vascular dementia, as it’s called, can rival (or possibly outstrip) Alzheimer’s disease as a source of memory loss.
Documenting These Vascular Changes
According to University College London’s Silvia Anderle and colleagues (2025), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and normal aging all share the effects of “a reduction in energy supply” when cerebral blood flow (CBF) slows down or fails to perfuse the brain.
Tracking studies on normal aging and CBF, the authors note that the arteries in the brain are capable of adapting to changes in blood flow associated with the toll that time takes on the cardiovascular system. In people with AD, though, this reduction can reach as high as a 50 percent decline, Anderle et al. suggest. Indeed, almost everyone (80 percent) diagnosed with AD whose brain is autopsied has some form of vascular damage. Although diagnosis of AD is imperfect, a problem that could complicate these analyses, there is enough evidence to justify the conclusion that “a CBF reduction has a crucial role in AD development.”
One of the reasons for this reduction could be the accumulation of beta amyloid (Aβ) in the brain, which causes its own set of destructive changes. Not everyone with Aβ accumulation shows signs of AD when alive, adding further complexity to the decision to diagnose someone with this disease.
Turning to VaD, also called vascular cognitive impairment, this is the condition in which a person is at risk for stroke, either a major stroke or smaller transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). The authors estimate that about 20 percent of all cases of dementia are due to VaD. However, AD and VaD can occur together, and this is where the diagnostic and treatment implications become serious. If VaD is missed in diagnosis or interpreted as normal aging or AD, options that would increase blood flow to the brain might also be missed. Giving the person an Alzheimer’s drug would prove useless at best and harmful at worst due to their side effects.
The bottom line is that because vascular problems are treatable, if not preventable, this suggests the value of focusing on improving your cardiovascular health. As the authors conclude, “In the long term, the future of therapy for cognitive decline in ageing and dementia may come to focus on prophylaxis rather than on arresting or reversing cognitive decline that has already occurred.” What’s more, this “prophylaxis” (prevention) can include lifestyle changes (exercise and heart-healthy diets) as well as medications such as statins that can lower the risk of heart disease.
Brain Health Is Within Your Reach
Because people may be convinced that aging of the brain is inevitable, or worse, so is AD, it’s possible that they fail to take advantage of those easy and effective strategies to preserve their memory. This good news about keeping your brain and mind sharp should help you counter the messages you get from watching all those ads that try to scare you into thinking you’re on the road to AD. There are plenty of resources you can consult that can get you out of this mindset and on the much more encouraging road to prevention and treatment. Keep on top of the National Institute of Aging’s updates, which provide valuable information on research and—most importantly—prevention.
Dementia Essential Reads
Another benefit of using these strategies is the sense of control you can regain about what’s happening to your body as you get older. Knowing that you’re doing everything you can to stave off the effects of reduced CBF will help benefit your sense of mastery over time’s impact. It’s long been known that half the battle of keeping your memory in good shape is convincing yourself that improvement is possible rather than giving in to hopelessness.
To sum up, it’s hard to avoid the negative messages about aging and brain health that you’re exposed to through the media. Taking steps to keep your blood flowing will benefit not only your brain but also your optimism.