Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
07:13
Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide
Published on: November 29, 2024
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
Summary
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.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Compounds Essential to Human Function
The human body is composed of cells that are fundamentally made up of several different molecules. These molecules are essential to carry out all physiological processes in the body and are broadly classified into organic and inorganic based on their chemical structures.
Inorganic Compounds Essential to Human Functioning
Inorganic compounds essential to human functioning include water, salts, acids, and bases. These compounds are inorganic, i.e., they do not have a carbon-hydrogen bond. Water...
Inorganic Compounds Essential to Human Functioning
Inorganic compounds essential to human functioning include water, salts, acids, and bases. These compounds are inorganic, i.e., they do not have a carbon-hydrogen bond. Water...
01:31Essential Minerals for Bone Health
The minerals contained in all of the food we consume are essential for our organ systems. However, certain essential minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and fluoride, largely affect bone health.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
01:31Organization of the Brain
The brain is an integral component of the nervous system and serves as the center for processing sensory inputs, making decisions, and directing bodily actions. This complex organ is organized into three primary sections: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, each responsible for a range of vital functions.
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...
01:30Vitamins
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
01:31Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
01:30Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters play a crucial role in the communication between neurons in the autonomic nervous system. Neurons in the autonomic nervous system can be cholinergic or adrenergic depending on the neurotransmitters synthesized. Cholinergic neurons use acetylcholine as their primary neurotransmitter. This includes all the preganglionic fibers of the sympathetic and pre- and postganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic nervous systems. In addition, neurons of the somatic nervous system also use...