CNN —Men at risk for heart disease may develop dementia up to a decade earlier than similarly at-risk women, a new study found. “This is novel finding with significant health implications.”Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world, according to the World Health Organization, and heart disease has been the No. Heart disease risk factors include obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, along with smoking, drinking too much alcohol and not getting proper exercise and adequate sleep, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Some observational studies have shown that midlife vascular risk factors, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity are associated with a higher risk of dementia, but not in late life,” Wei said. “Men have more fat (buildup) lining the internal organs (visceral fat) while women have more fat around the hips (subcutaneous fat),” Edison said.

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Persons: ”, Paul Edison, Edison, epidemiologist Jingkai Wei, Wei, ” Wei, Charday Penn, VBM, Gray, ” Edison, “ Organizations: CNN, Imperial College London, World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control, Memory Research, University of Texas Health Science Center, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, CNN’s Locations: United States, Houston, midlife