Achieving Optimal Cardiovascular Health to Reduce Dementia Risk in Type 2 Diabetes

A preliminary study being presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions suggests that among patients with type 2 diabetes, optimal cardiovascular health based on the AHA Life's Essential 8 metrics is associated with reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

The researchers reported a roughly 15% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in adults with moderate or high cardiovascular-health scores versus those with low scores.

This finding aligns with prior evidence that vascular risk–factor control has an outsized influence on cognitive outcomes in high-risk populations. Blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking status, and glycemic control consistently emerge as modifiable drivers of cognitive risk in people with type 2 diabetes, reinforcing vascular-targeted prevention as a pragmatic priority.

Embedding structured screening, explicit targets, and proactive follow-up within routine diabetes workflows—and aligning those metrics with quality measures—offers a potential path to reducing cumulative vascular burden and protecting brain health.