14 March 2025

Better Heart Health May Lower Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases

The American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 serves as a guideline for managing seven modifiable risk factors for heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is also recognized as a risk factor for neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

A recent study has identified a connection between higher Life’s Simple 7 scores in older adults and a potential reduction in biomarkers associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers highlight the importance of improving cardiovascular health, particularly for Black and African American populations, who face a higher risk of both heart disease and dementia.

Originally introduced in 2010, Life’s Simple 7 promotes healthier lifestyle choices—such as quitting smoking, maintaining a balanced diet, and managing body mass index (BMI)—to reduce the risk of cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure, hypertension, and coronary heart disease.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, emphasizes the potential impact of heart health education in preventing neurodegenerative diseases. According to lead author Dr. Anisa Dhana of Rush University Medical Center, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias pose a significant challenge for older adults and their caregivers. She underscores that focusing on prevention could have substantial public health benefits.

“Since cardiovascular disease and dementia share common risk factors, we aimed to explore the role of Life’s Simple 7 in the neurodegeneration process,” Dhana explained.