Alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, diabetes—we all know these are not the ingredients for an ideal state of health and well-being. More specifically, they are well-known as adversaries of heart health, contributing to an array of cardiovascular diseases, from strokes to atrial fibrillation. But what effects do these cardiovascular risk factors have on our brains? A recent scientific study published in the journal Radiology, sheds new light on how cardiovascular risk factors could be predictors of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Our brains are our command centers, performing a multitude of complex tasks every day. One of these vital tasks is the retrieval of memory, a function that involves three regions of the brain: the hippocampus, precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex. Volume loss detected in these areas of our brain act as possible indicators of the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease. According to the study in Radiology by Dr. King and his research team from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, alcohol use and diabetes have effects in decreasing total brain volume, while smoking and obesity are linked to volume loss in the posterior cingulate cortex.

Understanding contributing factors that play a role in causing brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s is key to finding paths for prevention. Eating nutritious meals, curbing or quitting smoking and alcohol use, exercising, can all act as important preventive defenses. Cardio and cognitive fitness go hand-in-hand, as highlighted by the study, and positive lifestyle changes can have great impact in keeping both our hearts and our brains fit. So next time you reach for that extra large Coca-Cola, glass of wine or cigarette, do your heart and brain a favour and think twice!  🙂