It is no secret that, as we age, our memory will begin to decline in our later years. However, any decline in mental capacity will be dependent on a variety of factors, such as overall health, genetics, diet and other lifestyle choices we make. In fact, recent studies have shown that there is a direct link between cardiovascular health and memory in senior citizens.
Researchers found that seniors with a healthy heart would be able to maintain and improve their memory, mental capacity and mental health. Factors, such as diet, blood circulation, lifestyle, physical activity and stress levels, will all play a part in our cardiovascular health as we get older. We need to consider these factors when deciding what we want our retirement years to look like and when trying to maintain our lifetime of memories.
Here are a few ways to that improving your heart health can help keep your mind sharp as you age:
Poor Blood Circulation Can Precipitate Mental Decline
Poor blood circulation can have various negative effects on our physical and mental health as we age. Research shows that the reduced blood flow associated with poor circulation can lead to a more rapid decline in our memory. This is as a result of poor blood flow to the temporal lobes of the brain.
Our brain’s temporal lobes play a key role in memory formation, retention and maintenance. Over time, a restricted cerebral blood flow will precipitate the effects of memory and mental decline that we see in aging. This is all as a result of poor blood circulation and weakened heart function that reduces blood flow to these critical areas of the brain.
Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and Good Heart Health
One of the most common and devastating forms of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Much like cancer or heart attacks, we have all had to deal with loved ones suffering from dementia. The symptoms of dementia can range from memory loss and cognitive decline to confusion and inability to reason. Alzheimer’s is one of the more severe types of dementia, and all preventive measures should be considered.
Alzheimer’s disease is caused by plaques, tangles and abnormal clusters of protein fragments that build up between nerve cells and synapses that cause brain cells to die. In a recent study, it was found that elderly participants who had healthy hearts (strong blood circulation and healthy blood vessels) were less likely to build up plaques and tangles in the areas of the brain where Alzheimer’s first forms.
Good for the Heart Is Good for the Brain
Maintaining our brain health and memory as we age is more than a matter of keeping our hearts healthy. However, the healthy behaviours and lifestyle choices that are emphasised for maintaining heart health are the same ones that benefit our brain health. Cardiovascular and mental health are intricately linked to our overall health and can both be improved by certain lifestyle changes.
Making big lifestyle changes can be difficult as we get older, but even the smallest changes could make a difference to our long-term cardiovascular and mental health. Healthy behaviour changes like these could include: quitting smoking, doing regular exercise, getting good sleep and eating a well-balanced diet. You never know what positive lifestyle changes will have the biggest impact, but all of them are definitely worth a try.
Deciding where you are going to live in your retirement years is an important and difficult decision to make. Whatever your medical or lifestyle requirements, Manor Retirement’s beautiful and bustling retirement communities have a range of senior living options to meet your needs, including independent and assisted living, as well as frail care.
