In middle-aged people, having risk factors like blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol that are not well-controlled combined with not following certain healthy habits including exercise, diet and sleep, are linked to a higher risk of stroke, dementia or depression later in life, according to a study published in the October 23, 2024, online issue of Neurology ® , the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. These results do not prove that not having healthy habits increases the risk of these conditions, they only show an association. The eight cardiovascular and brain health factors, known as the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 are: being active; eating better; maintaining a healthy weight; not smoking; maintaining a healthy blood pressure; getting enough sleep; and controlling cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Brain health is paramount for the optimal well-being of every person, enabling us to function at our highest level and constantly adapt in the world. Our study found that making these healthy lifestyle choices in middle age can have meaningful impacts on brain health later in life." Santiago Clocchiatti-Tuozzo, MD, MHS, study author of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and member of the American Academy of Neurology For the study, researchers evaluated data from 316,127 people with an average age of 56.
They were followed over five years. Researchers looked at participants' scores across the eight essential cardiovascular h.