With February designated as American Heart Month, we have all been educated and reminded about the importance of heart health. The significance of heart health in the prevention of heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks has been highlighted during this month. What you may not know however, is that a healthy heart may also contribute to preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s disease.
Heart/Brain Connection
The heart is responsible for supplying nearly 20% of our blood to our brain. If our heart is not working optimally, our brain cells have a difficult time receiving the necessary blood and oxygen which is essentially food for the brain. Heart Disease restricts blood flow to the brain, possibly leading to dementia/Alzheimer’s.
Another link between heart health and brain health is the risk factors for heart disease and Alzheimer’s. High blood pressure, lack of physical activity, and obesity are three main contributing factors for both conditions.
Research on Healthy Heart/Healthy Brain
Scientist Larry Sparks first discovered the correlation between having a healthy heart and having a healthy brain. He uncovered this finding while working in a medical examiner’s office performing autopsies. Sparks noticed that all of those with the brain plaque that indicates Alzheimer’s also had heart disease.
A report published in Jama Neurology focuses on the arterial health and brain images of patients aged 83 and older. Researchers participating in this study could tie atherosclerosis, which is a precursor to heart disease, to the buildup of plaque in the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This study was spread out over a two-year period. During this time researchers noticed an increase in the percentage of subjects with brain plaque rising from 48 percent to 75 percent. This increase was proportionate to increased levels of atherosclerosis.
Another study concluded that there is a connection between older women who have heart problems and vascular dementia. Participants in this study were men and women in their 70s and 80s with good brain health. There was a total of 1,450 subjects whose brain function was measured every 15 months. 348 people developed mild dementia after four years. Of the 348 who developed dementia, 94 participants’ dementias could be traced to heart problems. The link wasn’t proven to be significant with the men in the study, but was strong for the women. The women with heart problems were shown to be three times more likely to develop vascular dementia than those without any heart issues.
The next time you are reminded to exercise, watch your diet, monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, remember it’s not only good for your heart, but a healthy heart can also equal a healthy brain.
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