What's good for the heart is also good for the brain

AMERICAN FORK — February may be the ideal time to focus on heart health, but most people don’t realize what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain.

Stephen Peters, PhD, neuropsychologist at Intermountain Healthcare’s new Memory Clinic in American Fork, said research has identified three vital behaviors for maintaining healthy brain function throughout a life span. Those behaviors are:

•    Getting regular cardiovascular exercise
•    Eating a healthy diet
•    Maintaining a low body weight
 
“People who consistently followed these healthy behaviors experienced a 60 percent decline in the instance of dementia and cognitive decline. Physical exercise was the largest mitigating factor,” said Dr. Peters.

If you do four aerobic workouts each week that last 30 minutes or more, then you’re three times less likely to develop dementia. If you do exercise and develop a dementia, then the rate of decline is significantly less, said Dr. Peters. Plus, there’s also 70 percent fewer instances of diabetes, heart disease and stroke compared with people who didn’t follow these healthy behaviors.
 
Prevention is just one part of brain health Dr. Peters will focus on at the Memory Clinic, located in the Specialty Clinic on the campus of American Fork Hospital. He will also diagnose brain problems and help patients formulate treatment and care plans.

Dr. Peters said there’s a direct correlation between heart health and brain health. Research has shown the same risk factors for heart disease and stroke such as obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure also contribute to dementia.
 
“It can take years of unhealthy habits to lead to impaired brain health,” said Dr. Peters. “That’s why it’s important to focus on our behaviors now before they manifest into high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and white matter brain disease as we age.”