A new study published in Jama Network Open found a link between the risk of dementia and seven healthy habits for the heart.
Habits like eating a balanced diet, staying active and maintaining healthy weight can support heart and cognitive health.
Those who followed the habits closely had 19% of the lower levels of a dementia biomarker.
The brain and the heart are closely linked – which often affects the other. We previously pointed out how certain heart disease can influence brain health. In this study, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and coronary diseases have been associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Researchers assumed that one of the connection factors could be an inflammation.
To continue looking for connections, researchers from the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and the University of California have deepened deeply, wondering if there was an association between cardiovascular health (CVH) and the biomarkers of neurodegeneration. A practical framework of healthy cardiac habits of the American Heart Association helped them to assess CVH in adults over 65 years of age.
They published their conclusions on March 11, 2025 Jama Network Open– This is what they found.
Related: drink n ° 1 to limit to reduce the risk of dementia, according to the dietitians
How was this study carried out?
The researchers took their data from a previous long -term study called Chicago Health and Aging Project, which was conducted from 1993 to 2012. Although the total chap cohort includes 10,802 men and women aged 65 and over, these researchers used data from only 1,018 participants in CAP.
These participants had the additional information that researchers needed, who included blood analyzes that measured two biomarkers of neurodegenerares: the light neurofilament (NFL) and the TOTH (T-TU). Participants were an average age of 73 and around 61% were women and 60% were black. About 35% of participants brought at least one variant of gene that increases the risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Demographic information has been collected, in particular age, sex, race, BMI, level of education and medical history. Depressive symptoms were measured using a validated scale. The cognitive activity was evaluated according to their participation in certain activities, in particular reading, writing letters, visit to the library and games such as failures and verifiers.
Each participant has received a cardiovascular health score based on the American Heart Association, a list of seven habits or health factors that affect your heart health. The seven include:
Become physically active
Maintain a healthy weight
In 2022, the AHA began to use Life’s Essential 8, which added high quality sleep to the list of habits.
The seven original habits have been evaluated through a variety of questionnaires, as well as pre -existing medical reports such as hypertension or diabetes. The researchers also took the blood pressure from the participants every three years during the follow -up visits. The CVH score for each participant varied from 0 to 14, with higher scores indicating better cardiovascular health.
Blood samples have been assessed for the concentration of NFL or T-ca concentrations. Everyone has these biomarkers, but the more one or the other of these biomarkers is present, the more the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, dementia of Lewy’s body, Parkinson’s disease, muscular atrophy of the vertebral column and Friedrech.
Related: habit n ° 1 to help prevent dementia, according to a new study
What does this study be found?
After having carried out several statistical analyzes, the researchers found that a higher CVH score was associated with a lower serum concentration of NFL. They also found that compared to the participants with the lowest CVH scores (0 to 6 points), those with the highest CVH scores (10 to 14) had around 19% of the serum NFL rates.
Over time, participants with a CVH score of 0 to 6 points had an annual NFL increase rate of just over 7%, and those with a CVH score from 10 to 14 points had an annual NFL increase rate of just over 5%.
The researchers found that these associations really held age, sex and race.
As for T-Tau, the researchers found no association between the blood levels of T-Tau and CVH.
Related: 8 things you should not do when you try to prevent cognitive decline
How does it apply to real life?
This study suggests that a healthy diet, a regular exercise, a healthy BMI, a non-smoking status and the absence of high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (that is, high cholesterol and triglycerides) and diabetes are associated with lower NFL serum rates, a biomarker of neurodegeneration.
We have long realized the links between the lifestyle and the heart and health of the brain. Diet, physical activity, management of your stressors and quality sleep are highest factors which, in turn, influence other factors, such as weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Eating healthy can be one of the most delicate things to understand, especially with a lot of contradictory information. If you want advice, we encourage you to meet a recorded dietitian that can offer individualized attention. Or consider one of our meal plans organized by dietitians for healthy aging and brain health, such as our simple cognitive health meal plan at 7 days or our 30 -day Mediterranean dietary meal plan for healthy aging.
Related: the best protein for better brain health, according to the dietitists
The bottom line
This study suggests that there is a link between a biomarker linked to neurodegeneration and certain health factors. Although we all have a certain level of NFL in our blood, higher levels place you at an increased risk of conditions such as dementia. To maintain low levels, eat a balanced and varied diet, initiate regular physical activity, manage your stress, take a lot of quality sleep, try to quit smoking and follow health measures, including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides. And, because loneliness has been linked to a higher risk of dementia, be sure to reserve time spending with friends and family.
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Read the original article on eatingwell
(Tagstotranslate) NFL (T) Caler gift (T) American Caroal Association (T) Neurodegeneration (T) Arterial Pressure (T) Coronarian Cardiac disease (T) Eat a balanced diet
