How cardiovascular health impacts dementia development

Cardiovascular health plays a crucial role in the development of dementia, a condition that affects memory and thinking skills. The connection between heart and brain health is strong because the brain relies on a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood, which is delivered through healthy blood vessels.

When cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, or smoking damage the heart or blood vessels, they can also harm the small arteries that feed the brain. This damage can cause tiny strokes or reduce oxygen flow to brain tissue over time. These changes may not cause obvious symptoms at first but gradually lead to cognitive decline and increase dementia risk.

Research shows that maintaining good cardiovascular health—through balanced diet, regular exercise, avoiding smoking, managing weight and cholesterol levels, controlling blood sugar and blood pressure—can lower both heart disease and dementia risks. Psychological well-being also plays an important role in this relationship.

Interestingly, improving vascular health even later in life can still reduce dementia risk significantly. This means it’s never too late to adopt healthier habits for your heart to protect your brain as you age.

In essence: what benefits your heart will benefit your mind too. Taking care of cardiovascular health helps keep the brain nourished and functioning well for longer periods by preventing vessel damage that leads to cognitive problems down the road.