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Life's Essential 8: Essential for Brain and Cognitive Health

Matthew E Gold1, Sanjay Chandrasekhar2, Ambar Kulshreshtha3

  • 1Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta GA USA.

Journal of the American Heart Association
|July 25, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Improving cardiovascular health through Life's Essential 8 may reduce dementia risk. This review explores how these factors promote brain health and cognitive function, offering insights into Alzheimer's disease prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cognitive impairment and dementias are rising public health concerns.
  • Vascular dysfunction is increasingly linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
  • The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 framework addresses cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review established and emerging data on the relationship between Life's Essential 8 factors and brain health.
  • To explore how cardiovascular health influences cognitive function and dementia risk.
  • To clarify the role of vascular and behavioral factors in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of existing scientific literature.
  • Synthesis of data on cardiovascular health metrics and cognitive outcomes.
  • Analysis of modifiable risk factors for dementia.

Main Results:

  • Life's Essential 8 encompasses behavioral (diet, activity, nicotine, sleep) and health (cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, BMI) factors.
  • Adherence to Life's Essential 8 is associated with improved cardiovascular health.
  • These factors are hypothesized to mitigate cognitive impairment risk through enhanced vascular health.

Conclusions:

  • Optimal cardiovascular health, as defined by Life's Essential 8, is crucial for maintaining brain and cognitive health.
  • Modifiable risk factors, addressed by Life's Essential 8, account for a significant portion of dementia cases.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the causal links between Life's Essential 8 factors and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Keywords:
Life's Essential 8brain healthcardiovascular diseasecognitiondementia

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