TUESDAY, Nov. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Alzheimer's disease patients with atrial fibrillation, hypertension or angina have a greater rate of decline than their counterparts without these vascular factors, while those with a history of coronary artery bypass graft surgery, diabetes and antihypertensive medications have a slower rate of decline, according to study findings published in the Nov. 6 issue of Neurology.

Michelle M. Mielke, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues conducted a study of 135 people with Alzheimer's disease, who were followed up for a mean three years with a mean 2.1 in-home visits. Vascular factors were determined at baseline, and the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale and Mini-Mental State Examination were administered at follow-up.

More rapid decline on both scales was observed in those with atrial fibrillation, systolic hypertension and angina. The greater the age, the stronger the impact of systolic hypertension, angina and myocardial infarction.

"This suggests that these factors may be age-specific and that there is continued need to treat these conditions as early as possible," the authors write. "As vascular variables are potentially modifiable, these findings suggest means for secondary prevention in Alzheimer disease."

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