Integrated Psychiatry & Whole-Body Health
Linda Keddington, DNP, APRN
Dec 7, 2025
Research shows a powerful connection between the health of your heart and the long-term health of your brain. People with stronger cardiovascular health have lower risk of stroke, dementia, memory loss, and even depression. The same habits that protect your heart also protect your brain as you age.
Big Picture: Why Heart Health Matters for Your Brain
A large study following more than 316,000 adults found that people with poor heart health had over twice the risk of developing stroke, dementia, or depression later in life compared with those who had good heart health.¹
This means that supporting your heart—through things like exercise, good sleep, blood pressure control, and healthy eating—is one of the most effective ways to protect your brain.
Heart Health & Dementia Risk
Healthy heart habits in midlife and older adulthood are linked to:
Lower risk of developing dementia
Slower age-related memory decline
Healthier brain structure on imaging
Studies show that each additional heart-healthy habit (such as staying active, not smoking, or keeping blood pressure under control) adds extra protection.²˒³
Heart health earlier in adulthood may be especially important. One study found that heart health measured years before symptoms appear was a stronger predictor of dementia than more recent measurements.⁴
This highlights that prevention starts long before symptoms begin.
Heart Health & Mood
The heart–brain link also affects emotional well-being.
Older adults with better cardiovascular health have a much lower risk of developing depression.⁹
Higher midlife fitness is linked to:
A lower chance of developing depression later
A lower chance of dying from heart-related causes, even among those who do develop depression¹⁰
This means that improving your cardiovascular health can support both mental and emotional resilience.
How Heart Health Protects Your Brain
Researchers have identified several ways cardiovascular health keeps the brain healthier:
Better blood flow to the brain
This helps protect memory and cognitive function.
Less “silent” blood vessel damage
People with healthier cardiovascular markers show slower progression of small blood vessel injury in the brain.⁵˒⁶
Slower brain aging
Stronger cardiovascular health is linked to:
Less brain shrinkage
Younger “brain age” on MRI scans⁵˒⁶
Less neuronal injury
Older adults with better heart health have lower levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL)—a marker of brain cell damage.⁷
How Much Impact Can This Make?
The American Heart Association estimates that about 35% of dementia cases could be prevented by reducing common cardiovascular risks like:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Smoking⁸
This means there is substantial opportunity for prevention—no matter your age.
What You Can Do: Life’s Essential 8
The American Heart Association recommends Life’s Essential 8—a simple set of habits that protect both heart and brain:
Healthy blood pressure
Healthy blood sugar
Healthy cholesterol
Healthy weight
Not smoking
Regular physical activity
Nutritious eating
Consistent, restorative sleep
Even small improvements in these areas can make a meaningful difference for your long-term brain health.¹¹˒¹²
Bottom Line
A healthier heart means a healthier brain. You don’t need major changes—incremental improvements in lifestyle and cardiovascular health have powerful protective effects over time. The earlier these habits start, the greater the benefit, but it’s never too late to improve both heart health and brain health.
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your healthcare provider. Always consult your physician or qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Use of this content does not establish a patient-provider relationship.
References:
Clocchiatti-Tuozzo, S., Rivier, C. A., Renedo, D., et al. (2024). Life's Essential 8 and poor brain health outcomes in middle-aged adults. Neurology, 103(10), e209990.
Samieri, C., Perier, M. C., Gaye, B., et al. (2018). Association of cardiovascular health level in older age with cognitive decline and incident dementia. JAMA, 320(7), 657–664.
Samieri, C., Perier, M. C., Gaye, B., et al. (2018). Association of cardiovascular health level in older age with cognitive decline and incident dementia. JAMA, 320(7), 657–664.
Pase, M. P., Beiser, A., Enserro, D., et al. (2016). Association of ideal cardiovascular health with vascular brain injury and incident dementia. Stroke, 47(5), 1201–1206.
Huang, H., Wang, J., Dunk, M. M., et al. (2024). Association of cardiovascular health with brain age estimated using machine learning methods in middle-aged and older adults. Neurology, 103(2), e209530.
Li, Y., Laukka, E. J., Dekhtyar, S., et al. (2023). Association between behavioral, biological, and genetic markers of cardiovascular health and MRI markers of brain aging: A cohort study. Neurology, 100(1), e38–e48.
Dhana, A., DeCarli, C. S., Dhana, K., et al. (2025). Cardiovascular health and biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease in older adults. JAMA Network Open, 8(3), e250527.
Lazar, R. M., Howard, V. J., Kernan, W. N., et al. (2021). A primary care agenda for brain health: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Stroke, 52(6), e295–e308.
van Sloten, T. T., Valentin, E., Climie, R. E., et al. (2023). Association of cardiovascular health with risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms. JAMA Psychiatry, 80(4), 342–349.
Willis, B. L., Leonard, D., Barlow, C. E., et al. (2018). Association of midlife cardiorespiratory fitness with incident depression and cardiovascular death after depression in later life. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(9), 911–917.
Gorelick, P. B., Furie, K. L., Iadecola, C., et al. (2017). Defining optimal brain health in adults: A presidential advisory from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke, 48(10), e284–e303.
Testai, F. D., Gorelick, P. B., Chuang, P. Y., et al. (2024). Cardiac contributions to brain health: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Stroke, 55(12), e425–e438.