Is poor cardiovascular health linked to dementia? Yes, research shows a strong connection between heart and blood vessel problems and higher chances of dementia, especially vascular dementia, which happens when blood flow to the brain gets damaged.
Cardiovascular health covers things like blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, weight, smoking, and sleep. Poor control of these from midlife onward can harm brain cells over time. For example, high blood sugar, marked by higher HbA1c levels, links to lower cognitive skills across most of life, from young adulthood to old age.[1] Low levels of good cholesterol, called HDL, also tie to weaker memory, focus, and reasoning skills throughout the lifespan.[1] Smoking harms blood vessels and consistently raises dementia risk.[1][2]
High blood pressure stands out as a top risk for vascular dementia. It stiffens and narrows arteries, cutting off brain blood flow and raising stroke odds, which often lead to dementia. Nine in ten people with vascular dementia are over 65, and untreated high blood pressure speeds this up.[2] Recent studies even point to faulty brain blood flow as a driver of dementia symptoms. Losing a key fat molecule called PIP2 makes blood vessels overactive, starving brain tissue. Restoring it fixed flow in lab tests, hinting at new fixes for vascular issues in dementia.[3]
Weight matters too, but in a narrower window. Higher body mass index, or BMI, links to poorer cognition mainly in midlife, not earlier or much later.[1] Diabetes and obesity add to the mix by damaging vessels, much like they do in the heart.[2]
The good news focuses on action. Exercise fights these risks head-on. Staying active in midlife cuts dementia odds by 41 percent, and in later years by 45 percent, compared to the least active people.[5] It improves blood flow, cuts plaque buildup in arteries, lowers inflammation, and helps control blood sugar and cholesterol.[4][5] Even 20 to 30 minutes a day brings benefits, with more activity offering more protection. Starting or ramping up in your forties and fifties seems key to stopping damage before it hits hard.[2][4]
These links start early but grow stronger over decades. Midlife is a critical time to manage risks, as differences in heart health may carry from youth and build up.[1] While genes and age play roles we cannot change, nearly half of dementia cases tie to controllable factors like these.[2]
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12726419/
https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/types-of-dementia/vascular-dementia/risk-factors/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225031247.htm
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/how-exercise-can-reduce-dementia-risk
https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/staying-active-as-you-age-past-midlife-sharply-lowers-dementia-risk
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214343
