Are you looking to optimize brain function? Or perhaps maintain intellectual capabilities as you age? You might want to start by focusing on your heart health.
Not only are the risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease the same as those for cardiovascular disease, but recently, research has demonstrated a direct link between cardiovascular health and cognition. Additionally, actions that protect your heart can help to decrease the incidence of dementia and other related cognitive functions.1
In a 2016 study, epidemiologists looked at the impact that a heart-healthy lifestyle has on memory and mental acuity over six years in 60-70-year old individuals. This included – maintaining healthy blood pressure and body weight, good nutrition, not smoking, regular exercise and maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The results of the study were significant. In every different demographic studied, those who had better cardiovascular health, had higher scores on mental exams than those who scored lower on the health section. Even more impressive, several years later, these benefits continued.2
In January 2020, the Global Council on Brain Health released a report which focused on the connection between heart health and brain health. In the report they mention that in general, keeping a healthy heart and blood vessels reduces the risk for dementia and cognitive decline.1 They state that better control of blood pressure and cholesterol reduce risk of cognitive impairment while irregular heartbeats, obesity and sedentary lifestyle increase the risk for both dementia and cognitive decline.1 Large groups of people were studied over many decades, and the writers found that the occurrence of dementia decreases with cardiovascular health enhancements.
We don’t know the exact mechanism for the benefits of cardiovascular health on the brain, but the most likely and researched hypothesis is based on the blood flow to the brain. The main issue in any cardiovascular disease is that damage to the arteries prevents blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body. This reduced or blocked flow of blood can lead to major cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes. In order for your brain to function optimally and to clear away certain proteins that build up in Alzheimer’s disease, we need proper blood flow. Without adequate blood flow to the brain these proteins can start to accumulate and become tangled which increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. 2
Ultimately, the brain requires constant and uninterrupted blood flow. If there are issues in blood flow, either due to heart or vascular problems, the function of the brain will be impacted. An example of this is seen in patients who suffer from left sided heart failure and have a decreased ability to pump out high volumes of blood. Those with heart failure have significantly lower cognitive function scores when compared to those with proper heart function.3 Due to the damage of the heart, there is less blood pumped to the brain. This leads to under perfusion, decreasing the oxygen available for the brain cells to use.
Compounded on the need to pump adequate amounts of blood to the brain, the perfusion within the brain itself is also important. The brain is one the of the most vascular organs in the body and the small blood vessels that supply the brain cells are also significant contributing factors to a healthy brain. When these small vessels are damaged, there is decreased oxygen as well as glucose brought to your brain cells, impairing their function. 4
The heart-brain connection is great news for anyone who is looking to maintain their brain health or protect against cognitive decline with aging. By working on improving and optimizing cardiovascular health, you automatically are improving brain function, as well as several other organs.
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