Journal of Neuroimaging reports that damage to brain blood vessels or temporal lobe atrophy are indicators that an individual is more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, older individuals who had both characteristics were 7 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those without the indicators.

MRI scans were used to identify those with poor brain circulation. Those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s while being at a higher risk for a heart attack and stroke. Whether reducing the factors for a heart attack and stroke will also reduce the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease has not been established, it is suspected to lower the risk.