A Healthy Heart = A Healthy Brain

Most people know that it's essential to take care of their heart. But did you know that your heart and brain are closely connected? When your heart is strong and healthy, your brain works better too. Scientists are learning more and more about how caring for your heart helps your memory, focus, and mood.

Let's explore the powerful connection between heart health and brain health!

What Is Cardiovascular Health?

Your cardiovascular system includes your heart, blood, and blood vessels. It moves oxygen and nutrients through your body and removes waste. Your heart pumps blood to every body part—including your brain! So, if your heart and blood vessels aren't working well, your brain might not get enough oxygen and nutrients to do its job.

How a Healthy Heart Helps the Brain

Your brain needs a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood to stay healthy. The heart makes this possible. If your heart pumps strongly, blood flows more easily to your brain. But when your heart or blood vessels are unhealthy, like when someone has high blood pressure or clogged arteries, it gets harder for blood to reach the brain. Over time, this can lead to problems like memory loss, confusion, or even diseases causing Dementia.

What Can Hurt Your Heart (and Brain)?

Certain habits and conditions make the heart work harder or wear it out. These include:

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Smoking

• Obesity

• Lack of exercise

• Eating lots of sugar, salt, and processed foods

All of these can damage blood vessels and make it harder for blood to reach the brain, causing parts of the brain to slow down or shrink.

What Can Help Both Your Heart and Brain?

The good news is that many things that keep your heart healthy also help your brain stay sharp. The Dementia Society of America® recommends some easy ways to care for both:

• Eat Brain-Healthy Foods. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and fish are great for your heart and brain. Try to eat colorful foods and limit fast food, soda, and processed snacks.

• Move Your Body. Exercise strengthens the heart and increases blood flow to the brain. Walking, biking, dancing, and playing outside are all fun ways to get moving.

• Get Enough Sleep. Your brain uses sleep to rest and repair. Kids and teens need about 8–10 hours of sleep each night.

• Reduce Stress. Stress can raise blood pressure and hurt your heart. Try relaxing activities like deep breathing, drawing, or spending time with friends and family.

• Don't Smoke. Smoking hurts both your heart and brain. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do, talk to someone about how to quit.

What Does Science Say?

Scientists have conducted many studies to explore the link between the heart and brain. They've learned that people who care for their hearts—by eating well, moving more, and not smoking—have better brain health as they age. One long-term study found that people with healthy hearts in their 20s had better memory and thinking skills in their 50s! That shows how important it is to start healthy habits early in life.

Brain Diseases Linked to Poor Heart Health

When the brain doesn't get enough blood, it can lead to serious problems. Some of these include:

• Stroke: Happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked.

• Vascular Dementia: Caused by damage to blood vessels in the brain.

• Alzheimer's disease: Linked to changes in blood flow and brain cells.

Caring for your heart may help lower your risk of these brain diseases.

Final Thoughts: One Body, One System

Your heart and brain work as a team. What helps one usually helps the other. So, when you care for your heart, you also give your brain the best chance to stay strong for life. It's never too early to start! Small steps like choosing water instead of soda, walking instead of riding, and going to bed on time can make a big difference. Your heart—and your brain—will thank you!

Author:  AI-Assisted Human-Edited Staff Writer

We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of content contained within blog posts that have been provided to us with permission, paid or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice. Please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org

Additional Reading:

1. Gorelick, P. B., et al. (2011). Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and Dementia: A statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke, 42(9), 2672–2713.

   
   

2. Lamar, M., & Resnick, S. M. (2004). Aging and vascular health: The impact on neurocognitive function. Geriatrics, 59(5), 19–24.

   
   

3. Williamson, J. D., et al. (2019). Effect of intensive vs standard blood pressure control on probable Dementia: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 321(6), 553–561.

   
   

4. Yaffe, K., et al. (2014).Cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive decline in elderly persons: A review of the literature. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 62(5), 945–952.

   
   

5. Ngandu, T., et al. (2015). A 2-year multidomain intervention of diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring versus control to prevent cognitive decline in at-risk elderly people (FINGER): A randomized controlled trial. The Lancet, 385(9984), 2255–2263.