Improve cardiovascular health and improve your brain function.

More and more research is finding that the different functions of the body are related to each other. For that reason it may not be a surprise that cardiac output is related to brain function.

A recent study investigated if brain MRI variables were related to cardiac MRI assessed cardiac index in participants with an average age of 61 years (Jefferson AL, et al. 2010). Patients with cardiovascular disease were excluded.

It was interesting that participants in the bottom cardiac index tertile and also the ones in the middle tertile had significantly lower brain volume than the participants in the top tertile.

The researchers concluded that the results were in agreement with the hypothesis that decreased cardiac function is associated with accelerated brain aging.


If you value a good brain function keep your cardiovascular system in good shape. Do some type of aerobic exercise regularly, eat high nutrients low glycemic index meals regularly and avoid sugary sweet drinks. Read the book "The Food Connection" for recipes and explanations of other benefits of high nutrients low glycemic index meals.

To read the original abstract, click on the reference below.


Reference:

Jefferson AL, Himali JJ, Beiser AS, Au R, Massaro JM, Seshadri S, Gona P, Salton CJ, DeCarli C, O'Donnell CJ, Benjamin EJ, Wolf PA, Manning WJ. Cardiac index is associated with brain aging: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 2010 Aug 17;122(7):690-7. Epub 2010 Aug 2.