Elderly people with a faster resting heart rate are at greater risk of developing dementia, research finds Checking pulses may be quick and easy way to identify potential sufferers early Those at risk can be given healthy lifestyle advice to keep the condition at bay In the United Kingdom, around 850,000 people are living with the condition By Shaun Wooller Health Correspondent For The Daily Mail Published: 00:57 GMT, 4 December 2021 | Updated: 00:58 GMT, 4 December 2021 Viewcomments Elderly people with a faster resting heart rate are at greater risk of developing dementia, researchers have found. Checking pulses may be a quick and easy way to identify potential sufferers early, the authors of the study suggest. Those at greater risk can then be given healthy lifestyle advice – such as taking regular exercise – to keep the condition at bay. Elderly people with a faster resting heart rate are at greater risk of developing dementia, researchers have found Scientists from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden gave the advice after analysing data on 2,147 people aged 60 and over who were tracked for up to 12 years. Participants with a resting heart rate of 80 beats per minute or more were 55 per cent more likely to develop dementia than those with a heart rate of 60 to 69. They were also more likely to see a quicker decline in memory and cognitive skills. Checking pulses may be a quick and easy way to identify potential sufferers early, the authors of the study suggest The researchers say imbalanced nerve activity or stiffened arteries may explain the apparent link between heart rate and dementia. Writing in the medical journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia, lead author Dr Yume Imahori recommended ‘regular exercise and [more] physical activity’ to lower the risk of dementia. In the UK, around 850,000 people are living with the condition. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility