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cardiovascular health

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·November 21, 2025·6 min read

Genetics Plus Heart Health Markers Sharpen Dementia Risk

New research shows that dementia risk is best predicted by combining genetic vulnerability with cardiovascular disease markers, revealing a more precise and actionable way to identify who is most likely to develop the condition. While genes such as APOE4 and family history contribute heavily, equally powerful are modifiable factors like hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 20, 2025·6 min read

Cocoa Flavanols Show Anti-Inflammatory Effects

A large clinical trial found that cocoa flavanol supplements can lower age-related inflammation, potentially explaining their heart-protective effects. Researchers analyzed blood samples and discovered a consistent reduction in hsCRP, a biomarker tied to cardiovascular risk, among participants taking cocoa extract.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 7, 2025·4 min read

Anxious Mondays Leave Lasting Mark on Stress

A new study reveals that anxiety felt on Mondays uniquely elevates stress hormones, even in retirees, with potential consequences for heart health. Researchers found older adults who reported Monday anxiety had 23% higher long-term cortisol levels than peers anxious on other days.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 9, 2025·9 min read

Pregnancy Health Shapes a Child’s Blood Pressure for Life

Children born to mothers with obesity, gestational diabetes, or hypertensive pregnancy disorders have significantly higher blood pressure from early childhood through adolescence. These children also experience faster blood pressure increases between ages 2 and 18, highlighting the long-term cardiovascular impact of prenatal exposures.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 28, 2025·2 min read

Sugar Substitute May Harm Brain, Blood Vessel Health

New research suggests that erythritol, a popular low-calorie sweetener, may impair blood vessel health by disrupting the brain’s production of nitric oxide. Cells exposed to typical erythritol levels showed increased oxidative stress and reduced nitric oxide, potentially impairing blood flow.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·April 7, 2025·7 min read

ADHD Drugs Linked to Heart Effects

A large new analysis of 102 clinical trials finds that ADHD medications have overall small effects on blood pressure and heart rate in both children and adults. These cardiovascular effects—mostly modest increases—were consistent across stimulants and non-stimulants, with guanfacine being the exception, lowering these parameters.

This shows a brain in the shape of a heart.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 12, 2025·5 min read

Boost Brain Health by Following Your Heart: Simple Steps for Longevity

New research highlights that optimal brain health, crucial for maintaining cognitive function as we age, is strongly linked to cardiovascular wellness. The study underscores that dementia and cognitive decline share risk factors with heart disease, suggesting these conditions are largely preventable by managing diet, exercise, cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·January 7, 2025·4 min read

Vascular Risk Factors Affect Brain Health Differently in Older People

A new study reveals that common cardiovascular conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, known to damage brain blood vessels in younger populations, are not linked to increased brain vessel harm in individuals aged 90 and older. Researchers analyzed data from 267 participants in the National Institute on Aging’s 90+ Study and found no significant relationship between these risk factors and brain changes in this age group. Interestingly, blood pressure-lowering medications such as diuretics and beta blockers were associated with reduced risks of specific brain conditions, suggesting potential protective effects.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 16, 2024·3 min read

Dopamine Plays Key Role in the Heart’s Stress Response

Researchers have discovered how stress-induced cardiovascular changes are controlled by the brain. Experiments in rats show that activating the lateral habenula, a stress-sensitive brain region, triggers changes in heart rate and blood pressure.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 8, 2024·5 min read

Short Sleep and High Blood Pressure Linked to Brain Aging

Research reveals that people with high blood pressure who also sleep less than six hours per night face increased risks of brain injury, accelerated brain aging, and impaired executive function. The study assessed 682 participants from the Framingham Heart Study, analyzing sleep patterns, blood pressure, cognitive performance, and brain MRIs.

This shows an older woman hugging a plush heart.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 29, 2024·7 min read

Heart-Healthy Habits Linked to Reduced Biological Age

A new study reveals that heart-healthy behaviors can reduce biological aging. Researchers found that managing heart disease risk factors is associated with a younger biological age and lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and death. The study highlights the role of DNA methylation in linking cardiovascular health to biological aging.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 16, 2024·8 min read

Tech Breakthroughs in Heart and Brain Health

The Journal of the American Heart Association's special issue showcases the progress of innovative digital technology projects, funded by over $14 million from the American Heart Association's Health Technologies and Innovation Research Network. These projects, launched in 2020, aim to improve global heart and brain health, addressing the gap in technology-based healthcare solutions. This issue features the first collection of work from multidisciplinary teams at renowned institutions, highlighting the synergy of technology and healthcare.