The heart-brain connection
Did you know that having heart disease ups your risk of dementia by 27% and a third of Alzheimer's disease related dementias can be attributed to modifiable coronary risk factors such as high blood pressure? Add to that the fact that the highway from the heart to brain -- called the heart-brain axis -- transports shared metabolic processes (elevated glucose, inflammatory proteins) and troublemakers (amyloids that accumulate in the blood and brain), and you can see how important it is to protect your cardiovascular system and your brain together.
New guidelines published in CMAJ recognize this powerful relationship and present a new set of recommendations for how to keep tabs on the health of both your heart and brain. They give you an increased chance to roll back your risk factors and improve the health of both systems.
1. If you have A-fib, get screened for cognition problems.
2. If you have coronary artery disease, get screened for depression -- and vice versa.
3. Aggressive blood pressure control is essential to reduce the risk of dementia, as well as stroke and heart attack.
4. You should make sure to get your influenza, pneumococcus, and shingles vaccines, especially if you're 65 and older, to help prevent stroke, heart attack, and vascular cognitive impairment.
As the developers of the guidelines say, "These recommendations recognize the intricate relationship between heart and brain disease and the importance of screening and treatment of the whole person." So, talk to your doc about your heart-brain health and check out the AI whole-body health coaching program at 4YOUngevity.com
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2026 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2026 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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