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LIVING A HEALTHY lifestyle could help your brain as much as the rest of your body, according to a new advisory from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Taking care of our bodies in the right way could also lessen the risk of cognitive decline – which can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia – in later years, researchers said.
Vascular neurologist Philip Gorelick said: “Research summarised in this advisory convincingly demonstrates that the same risk factors that cause atherosclerosis [a hardening of the arteries that can cause stroke or heart attack], are also major contributors to late-life cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.”
In order to ensure that our brain stays healthy into old age, the AHA recommends following its Life’s Simple 7. This is a set of health factors designed to make our bodies, particularly our heart, in good condition throughout our lives.
They are:
And what exactly is a healthy brain? The researchers define it as “one that can pay attention, recognise information from our senses, learn and remember, communicate, solve problems and make decisions, support mobility and regulate emotions”.
Previously, experts had not linked the problems that cause Alzheimer’s with stroke but now believe that they are related.
Gorelick said that elevations of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar can cause impairment of large and smaller blood vessels, “launching a cascade of complications that reduce brain blood flow”.
Gorelick said: “At some point in our lives, a ‘switch’ may be getting ready to ‘flip’, or activate, that sets us in a future direction whereby we become at-risk for cognitive impairment and dementia.”
In Ireland, over 50,000 people live with some form of dementia. According to research from NUI Galway, that number could more than double to 132,000 by 2041.
According to the government’s national dementia strategy, the average annual cost of care per person with dementia in Ireland is €40,500.
It added: “The value of informal care for those with dementia is estimated to be €807 million per annum.”
The American researchers hope that their advisory will help to inform how doctors and physicians treat brain health by linking it to these important lifestyle factors. They added that it could also be a starting point to build a broader definition of brain health.
Gorelick said that monitoring rates of dementia in places where public health efforts are improving the health of people’s heart “could provide important information about the success of such an approach and the future need for healthcare resources for the elderly”.
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Where can I get “physically actuve”? Can I get some on Amazon?
@Alan Farrell: To be fair you can’t blame the Journal, it’s the original source that they copied and pasted from’s fault. In case you haven’t noticed they don’t leave the office.
@Alan Farrell: Must be some new type of yoghurt.
The same program does not fit all , everyone is different. What affects some people doesn’t others. Life is a lottery and when your number is up it’s up . So enjoy it to the full and do what’s suits you and what keeps you happy as that is the key to life.
@BAZINGA !: Well enjoy life by all means but that doesn’t by any stretch of the imagination mean that you have to focus on unhealthy pursuits such as smoking. I know people who swim and run regularly and they clearly enjoy their lifestyle also.
@Sean: I never said anything of the sort , people have to do what keeps them happy ! I know people who are still smoking in their 80′s just like I know ones that have died from cancer that were 30 years younger, or fit and healthy people who have died relatively young also. My point is everyone is different no one size fits all
“Mens sana in corpore sano” is the Latin phrase for a healthy mind in a healthy body. It dates back to the 1st century AD and is as true now as it was then.
Oops. Too late for me.
@Gillian Weir Scully: It’s never too late, unless they are screwing your lid shut!
Like the don’t Quit smoking part
Rubbish. My mother has done all of those things all her life and her brain is now putty.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: It is hard to read these type of articles Neal and know that a family member who led an active, healthy and engaging life is now suffering with a cognitive impairment that does not match up with the research, my own brother in law developed temporal frontal lobe dementia in his early fifties, he could have written the bible of good health, exercise , healthy eating and positive living, so what happened, no answers, share your mams journey and I am truly sorry that she should endure this heartbreaking illness, the hardest thing is watching someone you love forget they love you.
So don’t start smoking or quit smoking.
Neuville Hypothesis : Trans Fats the Root Cause of Alzheimer’ Disease.
Trans Fats now banned in
- Denmark 2006.
- Switzerland 2009
- US from 2018 … by Obama Law.
- EU .. nope!
- Ireland – still counting trolleys
Amyloid precursor protein (APP) in brain cells plays a key role in Alzheimer’s Disease.
Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is cut in the wrong place and the resultant cut off parts are toxic to the brain, build up as plaque and lead to the death of adjacent neuron cells … holes in the brain and loss of brain function … memory and cognition.
So the real question is “why is Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) cut in the wrong place in Alzheimer cases”.
The Neuville hypothesis is that the wrong cut or cleave is caused by the presence of high concentrations of “artificial” Trans Fats in the cell outer membrane/wall which build up over many years.
So avoid artificial Trans Fats …. the FDA know they are not good for your health.
Eat natural healthy fats … avocado, walnuts, fish ….
No shit
Well Dohhhhhhh….. Obvs these seven thangsssss…. Lol
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