Cardiovascular health behaviors and overall cardiovascular health were directly associated with adolescent brain development and cognitive function, according to UTHealth Houston research published recently in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity . Led by first author Augusto César F. De Moraes, Ph.
D., MS, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, researchers found that adolescents with healthier cardiovascular behaviors showed higher cognitive and executive function. "While there have been studies on cardiovascular health and cognitive function in adults, less is known about these associations in adolescents," said De Moraes, who is with the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the school.
"Our study fills this gap by evaluating multiple aspects of cardiovascular health and their relationship with brain structure and cognitive performance in a younger demographic." The research team analyzed secondary research from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study of the National Institutes of Health, an ongoing study that focuses on brain development and overall health in adolescents. The study team analyzed a series of blood samples and standardized assessments, including neuroimaging, cognitive testing, and surveys of 978 adolescents.
Researchers based the analysis of cardiovascular health in each individual on methodology from the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8. It includ.