What’s good for your heart is also good for your brain.
That’s because people with high cholesterol are not only at higher risk for coronary artery disease and heart attack, but are also at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease, too.
A study published in the journal of Neurology found that 86% of those with high cholesterol had brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease, compared to only 62% of people with low cholesterol levels. That’s a pretty significant difference.
So you can help your heart and your brain by lowering your cholesterol level. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Get serious about what you eat. Use a plant-based diet like the Dean Ornish heart-reversal diet or the The South Beach Diet.
- Get to and maintain your ideal body weight.
- Start moving on a daily basis – stay active.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Take fish oil supplements for their healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Brain diseases are on the rise. According to the government’s Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center, an estimated 5.1 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s. And the number of people with Alzheimer’s doubles for each five-year interval after age 65.
So it’s a bonus that your cholesterol-reducing efforts will serve double duty, helping both your heart and your brain.
That’s it for today’s tip.
To Your Best Heart Health,
Chauncey W. Crandall IV, M.D., F.A.C.C.