Published on: Nov 06, 2025
A new study published in the European Heart Journal and funded by the British Heart Foundation has found that middle-aged adults with higher levels of a protein called cardiac troponin I in their blood are more likely to develop dementia later in life.
Troponin is a protein released into the blood when the heart muscle is damaged. While doctors typically test for very high troponin levels during suspected heart attacks, this study found that even slightly elevated levels—without symptoms—could signal ongoing, silent damage to the heart. Such damage may affect blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the brain, contributing to the development of dementia.
The research, led by scientists at University College London, followed nearly 6,000 participants from the long-running Whitehall II study for about 25 years. None had dementia or cardiovascular disease when they were first tested between the ages of 45 and 69. Participants with the highest troponin levels had a 38% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those with the lowest levels. They also showed faster declines in memory and problem-solving skills over time.
Brain scans from a subset of participants revealed that higher troponin levels were linked to smaller hippocampal and grey matter volumes—brain changes equivalent to about three years of additional ageing.
The findings suggest that damage to the heart in midlife may set off a long-term process leading to brain decline. Researchers propose that troponin could become part of a future risk score for predicting dementia decades before symptoms appear.
Experts emphasize that maintaining heart health—by controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, staying active, keeping a healthy weight, and not smoking—can help protect both the heart and the brain as we age.
Source: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/nov/poorer-heart-health-middle-age-linked-increased-dementia-risk
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