A new report from the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) confirms that heart and brain health are connected and that taking action to improve your cardiovascular health at any age reduces your risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
WSO Board Member Prof Joanna Wardlaw, was an expert contributor to the recently launched “The Brain-Heart Connection” report which summarizes the strongest research on this topic and offers practical lifestyle tips people can take to protect their heart and brain health.
Cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes contribute to individual stroke risk, dementia and cognitive decline.. The more risk factors a person has, the more likely they are to experience cognitive decline. However, there is strong evidence that reducing or treating these conditions lowers a person’s risk of cognitive decline and dementia, even if changes are made in your 70s or 80s.
The report was commissioned by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Sarah Lenz Lock, AARP Senior Vice President for Policy and Executive Director of the GCBH said “The best Valentine’s gift you can give your brain is to take care of your heart,” “The younger you start, the better for a lifetime of healthier brain, but no one should be discouraged or feel it’s too late to make a difference. Even simple steps to improve your heart health will benefit your brain, too!”
The GCBH recommends that adults take the following steps to improve their heart health:
• Lead a physically active life.
• Check your blood pressure regularly and work with a health professional to lower it if it is too high.
• If you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Smoking in any form is bad for the heart and bad for the brain.
• Take the time and steps to manage your mental health
• If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, consult with a health provider and nutritionist in order to help manage these conditions.
Additional lifestyle tips and recommendations for health providers are included in “The Brain-Heart Connection,” along with a discussion of the scientific evidence supporting these conclusions and gaps in current medical knowledge. Click here to download a copy of “The Brain-Heart Connection.”
A full range of stroke specific risk and prevention leaflets that address all of the key cardiovascular risk factors is available in English, French, Spanish and Hindi on the World Stroke Campaign website.
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