A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research found that arterial stiffness may play a critical role in early memory decline among older adults who appear cognitively healthy.

The study included 570 elderly participants with normal cognitive function and aimed to explore how arterial health impacts brain performance and memory processes.

Researchers measured plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels — a blood biomarker that reflects nerve fiber damage in the brain. While NfL naturally increases with age, higher-than-expected levels indicate accelerated brain aging and a greater risk of cognitive decline.

Arterial stiffness was assessed using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, which measures how fast blood travels from the heart to the legs. Stiffer arteries lose their ability to absorb pulse pressure effectively, leading to greater strain on the heart and brain, and reducing steady blood flow essential for brain health.

The findings revealed that severe arterial stiffness was linked to poorer performance in key cognitive domains, including:

Episodic memory (recalling past events).

Working memory (storing and processing information).

Processing speed (how fast the brain handles data).

Participants with higher arterial stiffness showed more pronounced memory deterioration, suggesting that vascular aging amplifies the effects of neural fiber damage on cognition.

According to Dr. Lewis Lipsitz, director of the Marcus Institute for Aging Research, these results underscore that brain aging is not only about neuron loss but also about vascular health.

He noted:

“While we cannot yet confirm that reducing arterial stiffness can fully prevent cognitive decline, protecting vascular health by managing high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other risk factors may be key to preserving memory as we age.”