The Link Between Cardiovascular Disease and Cognitive Decline
Ever heard the saying, “What’s good for your heart is good for your brain?” Well, as sayings go, this one actually contains a great deal of truth. In fact, there is an intricate relationship between the health of our hearts and the health of our brains. Today’s post is going to explore the impact of cardiovascular disease on the brain and offer simple tips and lifestyle changes that can help to keep the heart, and therefore the brain, in excellent condition.
How does the heart relate to the brain?
You might be wondering how the functioning of the heart can directly affect the brain. The brain is a highly vascularized organ that utilizes a stable supply of oxygen and nutrients delivered through a complex network of blood vessels. If there is any disruption in this blood supply, which can be due to cardiovascular disease, there can be significant impairments to brain function in both the short and long term.
What are the consequences?
Some of the studied potential effects of reduced blood flow to the brain include:
A higher risk of stroke, which can affect cognitive function, lead to brain damage, and potentially even long-term disabilities.
Types of cardiovascular disease known as atherosclerosis can cause plaques to form within the blood vessels, leading to what’s known as cerebrovascular diseases including cerebral small vessel disease, which is also linked to cognitive impairment and a higher risk of developing dementia.
Lower levels of blood flow can additionally trigger toxic proteins such as beta-amyloid to accumulate, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The role of inflammation
Underlying the relationship between cardiovascular disease and cognitive function is chronic inflammation. Often seen within cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammation can lead to vascular dysfunction and ultimately cause damage to brain tissue. Inflammation found within the brain known as neuroinflammation is a factor in a number of neurogenerative diseases and cognitive decline overall.
What can I do?
If all of this sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t worry. There are simple everyday modifications that you can implement into your daily life that can reduce your risks.
Firstly, managing cardiovascular risk factors for some can involve the appropriate treatment of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
The use of certain anti-inflammatory medications for those experiencing issues relating to inflammation and oxidative stress may hold promise in preserving the health of the brain.
More simply, prioritize a healthy heart with common sense lifestyle changes, including quality sleep, managing stress, smoking cessation, limiting alcohol intake, staying active, and eating a healthy balanced diet.
And just remember, a healthy heart goes a long way toward a healthy brain!