Controlling inflammation and hypertension help prevent Alzheimer's

If you have a parent who has suffered from Alzheimer's disease, this paper just published in the Archives on General Psychiatry identifies two vascular factors that you can use for screening and prevention: hypertension (high blood pressure) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (signaling molecules that promote inflammation). The authors conclude: "Hypertension and the expression of an innate pro-inflammatory cytokine profile in middle age are early risk factors of AD in old age. For the offspring of affected families, it provides clues for screening and preventive strategies..." Blood tests that measure cytokines are available at a discount due to our co-op association with Labcorp.