Better heart health at midlife linked to less cognitive decline in Black women

Better heart health at midlife linked to less cognitive decline in Black women April 25, 2024 Editors’ notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X’s editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content’s credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by American Heart Association Credit: Christina Morillo from Pexels Better heart health may mean middle-aged Black women are less likely to show cognitive decline than those with poor heart health, a study has found. Researchers said the study highlights the importance of heart health in protecting the brain. “Better cardiovascular health in women in their 40s is important to prevent later-life Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and to maintain independent living,” the study’s lead author, Dr. Imke Janssen, said in a news release. She is a professor of family and preventive medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, compared key heart health measures to Black and white women‘s scores on cognitive tests over 20 years. The cognitive tests assessed processing speed and working memory. The heart health standards, developed by the American Heart Association and known as Life’s Essential 8, include weight,...