Heart and brain health share common risk factors

Scientific evidence indicates a deep connection between cardiovascular health and brain health, suggesting that measures taken to protect the heart also serve to protect the brain.

While World Alzheimer's Day and World Heart Day are observed separately in September, they share numerous risk factors. Conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, sedentary lifestyles, and obesity increase the risk of both heart attacks or strokes and the development of cognitive impairment and various forms of dementia.

Prevention requires a lifelong perspective. Many factors influencing brain health begin to act decades before symptoms appear. Maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity, controlling blood pressure, avoiding tobacco, and staying socially active are cumulative actions that support both cardiovascular and neurological well-being.