"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

What’s good on your heart is nice on your mind, even after life

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A French study published on August 21, 2018. Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that the more steps you are taking to enhance your heart health, the lower your risk of developing dementia. Researchers examined the health and lifestyle data of greater than 6,000 men of their 70s freed from dementia and heart disease to see how they were doing after they followed seven steps really useful by the American Heart Association: Not smoking; weight control; getting regular physical activity; eating a healthy weight loss plan (including fish twice every week or more, and vegetables and fruit at the least 3 times a day); and maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. The researchers also conducted psychological tests on the participants at various times. After eight years, it showed that men who followed five to seven healthy habits had the bottom risk of developing dementia throughout the study (8%), in comparison with men who followed two or fewer habits (their risk was 13%). The study was observational and doesn’t prove that practicing heart-healthy habits will reduce your risk of dementia. But many other studies have made similar connections. Takeaway: It’s never too late to try to forestall dementia.