Most people know that heart disease can lead to serious problems like heart attacks or stroke. But what many don’t realize is that your heart health can also affect how well your brain works. Research suggests that having heart problems can make it harder to think clearly, remember things or stay focused. In some cases, it may even raise the risk of dementia.

What is especially surprising about the link between heart and brain health is that it may affect men at younger ages than women – as much as a decade sooner. One recent study followed over 30,000 adults and found that men with heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol were more likely to experience cognitive decline earlier than women.

That doesn’t mean that women’s brain health isn’t affected by cardiovascular risk factors, but it appears those changes typically happen later in life. Researchers think hormones like estrogen may offer some protection for women’s brains, but the exact reasons are still being studied.

What is the link between your heart health and your brain?

Your brain depends on healthy blood flow to function properly. When the heart isn’t working properly, it can’t pump blood as well as it should. Heart disease also typically results in stiff or narrowed blood vessels, which limits how much blood can get through. This diminished blood flow may result in the brain not getting enough oxygen or nutrients, which can cause parts of the brain to shrink or stop working the way they should. Because of this, you may:

• Find it harder to remember things
• Struggle to focus or think clearly
• Have slower problem-solving abilities
• Experience changes in mood or behavior

These brain changes don’t happen overnight. Signs of diminished brain health may start with seemingly simple things like forgetting names, losing focus or feeling mentally foggy. Although minor at first, they can grow into bigger issues, especially if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or other heart-related risk factors. The best time to stop that from happening is now.

What can you do now to take care of your heart and brain?

Many of the same habits that protect your heart also protect your brain. So by making a few lifestyle changes, you’ll be setting yourself up for better health in more ways than one. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from a potential loss of memory, difficulty with decision making and cognitive decline:

• Move more: Walking, biking or swimming helps blood flow better.
• Eat healthy: Focus on fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean proteins.
• Watch your numbers: Keep blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar in a healthy range.
• Don’t smoke: Smoking hurts both the heart and brain.
• Sleep well: Poor sleep can raise your risk for both heart disease and cognitive decline.

If you already have heart disease or related risk factors, talk to your doctor. There may be ways in addition to the lifestyle changes noted that help slow down or even prevent some of the brain-related effects of heart problems. Early action matters and can make a big difference when it comes to protecting your future cognitive health.

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