October 23, 2024
Taking good care of our hearts can not only help to prevent heart attacks and strokes and help us live longer; it can also help to keep the brain in good working order as we age, according to a new report from the American Heart Association. The findings underscore the importance of heart health in the long-term health of our brains.
The report concludes that managing heart health starting from an early age is critical for protecting brain health and reducing the risk of memory and thinking problems later in life. Medical experts combed the medical literature and identified three common cardiovascular diseases in adults that are linked to cognitive impairment and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia: heart failure, atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease.
Previous studies have found that up to four in five people with heart failure have some degree of cognitive impairment, leading to problems with memory, language or the ability to plan and carry out complex tasks. Underlying causes of heart failure include high blood pressure, obesity and Type 2 diabetes, all risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.
Evidence also shows that people with the common heart rhythm disorder known as atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, have a 39 percent increased risk of memory or thinking problems. People who have A-fib often describe it as a temporary flutter or quiver of the heart in the chest. A-fib is a leading cause of stroke as well as tiny bleeds in the brain that can compromise mental abilities.
Among the other statistics the heart association cites: Adults with heart disease have a 27 percent increased risk of developing dementia, and up to half of people who have a heart attack experience subsequent declines in thinking or memory skills.
“Stroke and cognitive decline, both major determinants of brain health, are chronic and disabling conditions that have a dramatic impact at the individual and societal level,” said study author Dr. Fernando D. Testai of the University of Illinois College of Medicine “Managing heart health from an early age is important to prevent cardiovascular disease and cardiac events, protect brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline in later life.”
“Dementia is commonly seen as an incurable and relentless disease that cannot be prevented,” Dr. Testai added. “Evidence shows, however, that adopting a healthy lifestyle and identifying and treating vascular risk factors early may help preserve normal brain function and reduce the burden of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias.”
Regular medical checkups and taking any medications your doctor may prescribe are critical in helping to maintain cardiovascular health. In addition, lifestyle modifications can play a key role in keeping heart health in check. The American Heart Association recommends eight key measures, called “Life’s Essential 8,” to help prevent the onset of heart disease — and to potentially keep the mind sharp into old age.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet. Aim to eat whole, unprocessed foods, including lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts and seeds. Use non-tropical oils such as olive and canola oil rather than saturated fats like butter.
- Be more active. Adults should aim to get at least 2-and-a-half hours of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. Kids should have 60 minutes every day, including play and structured activities.
- Quit tobacco. Traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vaping are a leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and a leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
- Get sound sleep. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Children require more. Adequate sleep improves brain function and reduces the risk for chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is a leading risk factor for heart disease as well as dementia.
- Control cholesterol. High levels of non-HDL, or “bad,” cholesterol can lead to heart disease.
- Manage blood sugar. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose (or blood sugar) that our bodies use as energy. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage your heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. As part of testing, monitoring hemoglobin A1c can better reflect long-term control in people with diabetes or prediabetes.
- Manage blood pressure. Levels less than 120/80 mm Hg are optimal. High blood pressure is defined as 130-139 mm Hg systolic pressure (the top number in a reading) or 80-89 mm Hg diastolic pressure (bottom number).
By ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer’s Information Site. Reviewed by Eric Schmidt, PhD, of The Fisher Center lab at The Rockefeller University.
Source: Fernando D. Testai; Philip B. Gorelick; Pei-Ying Chuan; et al: Cardiac Contributions to Brain Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.” Stroke, October 10, 2024
