Healthier Heart, Healthier Brain … and Cognition!

February is American Heart Month, an opportunity to focus attention on the importance of taking everyday measures to protect and optimize heart health. What you may not know, however, is that there is a clear relationship between a healthy heart and a healthy brain.

That’s why taking some time to understand the role the heart plays in brain health is important. And that includes cognitive health. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published studies finding a link between cardiovascular health and cognition. And, yes, the impact of heart disease on the brain can even lead to dementia.

What do we know about the relationship between heart health and brain health?

For the heart to adequately supply blood and nutrients throughout the body, its arteries must be healthy and strong. When they become blocked, every organ of the body quickly becomes impacted. This includes the brain, which requires a steady flow of oxygen-rich blood to function properly. If that blood flow is reduced or temporarily blocked a stroke can occur. When this happens, it can lead to a type of dementia called vascular dementia in which thinking skills are often suddenly impacted after damage to the blood vessels occurs.

The same factors that impact heart health are linked to brain health.

Research cited in a recent Harvard Health article indicates that many of the same risk factors that can lead to heart issues also can lead to dementia. These factors include obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

And while vascular dementia is most often associated with insufficient oxygen to the brain, newer findings point to heart issues potentially leading to other dementias, including Alzheimer’s.

What can you do to optimize both your heart and brain health?

1. Get plenty of exercise. Regular exercise strengthens your heart muscle. Before engaging in any exercise regimen, however, it is important to get advice from a physician who can take physical condition and any existing health issues into consideration. Even chair exercises or walking around the backyard can get the muscles working and keep oxygen flowing to the heart and brain.
2. Eat a healthy diet. Foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and avocados, are hearty healthy. Green vegetables, high fiber grains, and low fat meats, such as chicken, provide protein, while keeping cholesterol levels low. 
3. Quit smoking. Smoking is linked to a wide range of health conditions, including heart disease. It is never too late to quit smoking. Ask your physician for advice and resources to help your loved stay committed to stopping this hazardous habit.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. Exercise and a healthy low fat diet can help here. Your loved one’s physician can help devise a healthy regimen to reduce weight in a healthy way. Taking off excess pounds puts less stress on the heart. It can also help improve energy, mobility, and balance.
5. Reduce stress. There is a reason so many people feel better after a yoga or meditation session. It helps reduce stress which, in turn, can lower blood pressure and heart rate. Yoga and meditation are also good stress relievers for caregivers! You might also consider booking some sessions with a licensed therapist who specializes in dementia. They can give your loved one tools to help reduce anxiety.

At our Anthem Memory Care communities, we are big believers in working each day with our residents to keep their hearts and brains as healthy as possible. That means regular exercise, fresh air, brain-healthy foods and an environment that encourages connection with the world around them.

Feel free to reach out to us for answers to your questions and for resources to help your loved one improve their heart health. We welcome you to drop in to visit any of our communities and observe one of our exercise sessions. Our instructors will be happy to give you some tips and additional resources.