What Works for the Heart, Works for the Head
Another important research paper was published in PLOS Medicine reviewing the benefits that a healthy lifestyle has on heart function and Alzheimer’s prevention.
Researchers in the Finnish Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE) study found that maintaining life-long health behaviors may be crucial to reduce the late-life risk of dementia. This study is so noteworthy because it expands over three decades and has a large participant pool. Researchers examined the associations of cardiovascular health metrics in midlife and late-life with the risk of incident dementia in a population-based cohort of 1,449 participants in Finland for around 30 years!
Their findings are exciting as they further support the 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention®. Researchers explored the patterns of cardiovascular health metrics in midlife and late-life in relation to the risk of dementia. Maintaining life-long optimal heart health, especially through smart lifestyle choices, may reduce late-life risk of dementia. For example, participants who did not smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and had healthy dietary choices were less likely to develop heart problems and dementia.
ARPF President and Medical Director Dharma S. Khalsa, MD has been an avid supporter of whole-body health through integrative medicine. His quote “What works for the heart, works for the head” dates from 1995 and illustrates ARPF’s pioneering belief of the important relationship cardiovascular health has on brain health. One’s success depends on the other’s wellbeing.
Your ARPF is a proud supporter of many of the researchers in the CAIDE study. We now have a better understanding of the life-long cardiovascular health metrics and dementia risk that may facilitate the development of optimal intervention strategies. For more information on the 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention that help you live a brain-healthy lifestyle and prevent Alzheimer’s, click here.
Cardiovascular health metrics from mid- to late-life and risk of dementia: A population-based cohort study in Finland. PLoS Med 17(12): e1003474.
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