Can A Common Bone Health Test Reveal Your Dementia Risk?

What if a routine test for your bones could also reveal the future of your brain health? New research suggests that bone density scans—commonly used to check for osteoporosis—might double as a powerful tool for predicting your risk of dementia.

That’s because the scan also picks up an image of the aorta, the body’s largest artery. And as a new Australian study shows, a high amount of plaque in this artery more than doubles the risk of late-life dementia.

Key Takeaways

• Bone Scans Go Beyond Fractures: Bone density scans, often used to detect osteoporosis, can also measure abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), a key predictor of dementia risk.
• AAC and Dementia Risk: Women with moderate to extensive AAC were found to have double the risk of developing late-life dementia, emphasizing the heart-brain health connection.
• Prevention is Key: Early lifestyle interventions like exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce calcification and lower the risk of dementia and heart disease.

What Does A Bone Scan Have To Do With Your Brain?

In the future, your doctor may order a bone density scan not just to see if you’re at risk of a fracture or osteoporosis but to see if you’re at risk of dementia. That’s because this scan also shows a detailed look at a major artery, the aorta. Recently, groundbreaking findings linking plaque buildup in the aorta to cognitive decline have stopped neurologists in their tracks.

This discovery could change how we approach both heart and brain health.

The adage “what’s good for your heart is good for your brain” is most clearly seen in the sizable overlap between heart disease and vascular dementia, which is an increasingly common condition in older people. Both involve damage to and narrowing of blood vessels and have shared risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and smoking.

A bone density scan of the side of the lumbar spine also captures an image of the abdominal aorta. This vessel supplies oxygenated blood from the heart to the abdominal organs and lower limbs.

Calcium build-up in the artery, known as abdominal aortic calcification or AAC, is a valuable marker for predicting the risk of heart attack and stroke, but it also tells us about the health of the brain.

AAC Doubles Your Risk of Dementia

Previous human studies show the more significant the calcification, the worse the scores on verbal learning and memory, processing speed, language fluency, and overall cognitive performance. One study found AAC assessment in midlife predicted the burden of white matter brain lesions twenty years later.

Since AAC and the risk of future late-life dementia had never been examined, researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia analyzed AAC data in 968 women over 15 years.

When the study began the participants had an average age of 75. AAC was low at 44.7%, moderate at 36.4%, and extensive at 18.9%. By the end of the study, 15.7% were either diagnosed or had died from dementia.

After adjusting for cardiovascular and genetic risk factors, the findings, published in the journal The Lancet, showed that compared to women with low AAC, those with moderate and extensive AAC had double the risk of dementia. This was an average figure; over half (55%) had a two to fourfold increased risk.

Joshua Lewis, a member of the research team, said bone density machines are common, and lateral spine images can be performed when people undergo standard bone density tests. "It's generally very quick and easy to capture these scans, and they are less-invasive, cheaper, and miniscule in radiation exposure compared to X-rays or CT scans,” he said. “It means these scans may be a cheap, rapid, and safe way to screen a large number of susceptible older [people] for higher late-life dementia risk."

Importance of Diet and Exercise

His colleague and senior author Professor Simon Laws added: "This study reaffirms this link (between the heart and the brain) and further adds to our understanding of late-onset dementia risk and potential preventative strategies.

"What's come to light is the importance of modifying risk factors such as diet and physical activity in preventing dementia: you need to intervene early and hopefully this study allows for the earliest possible change and the greatest impact.”

Please don’t wait for an adverse finding on a bone scan to motivate you to take action. The CDC recommends seniors engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise five days a week and two days of activities that strengthen muscles.

To improve your diet, reduce refined, processed, and sugar-laden foods as much as possible and replace them with whole foods from nature. Nutritional supplements also make a positive difference to both heart and brain health.

The reality is that the health of your bones is not only essential to your quality of life and independence as you age, but scientists believe it's linked to your longevity.

Summary

A groundbreaking study has revealed that bone density scans can predict the risk of dementia by identifying calcification in the abdominal aorta, a major artery visible in these scans. Researchers found that women with moderate to extensive plaque buildup in this artery had double the risk of late-life dementia. This finding underscores the critical link between heart and brain health and highlights the importance of early intervention through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to mitigate these risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is abdominal aortic calcification (AAC)?
AAC refers to calcium buildup in the abdominal aorta, which is a marker for cardiovascular and cognitive health risks.

How does AAC affect dementia risk?
Extensive AAC is linked to double the risk of late-life dementia, likely due to reduced blood flow and increased inflammation.

Can bone density scans detect AAC?
Yes, lateral spine images from standard bone density tests can capture AAC, providing a non-invasive and cost-effective way to screen for dementia risk.

What lifestyle changes can help reduce AAC?
Regular aerobic exercise, strength training, a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods, and avoiding smoking can help reduce AAC and its associated risks.

Are bone density scans safe?
Bone density scans are quick, low-cost, and involve minimal radiation exposure, making them a safe screening tool.