Heart Health & Brain Size: Early Warning Signs
- Early indicators of heart trouble may coincide with changes in brain health, potentially signaling the onset of dementia, according to a recent meta-analysis.
- The study, featuring data from 10,889 participants with an average age of 67 across Europe and the U.S., focused on early signs of heart problems, specifically systolic and...
- The analysis revealed that individuals with moderate to severe systolic dysfunction were more likely to exhibit smaller total brain volume compared to those with normal systolic function.
Spot the warning signs: Early heart problems may signal future changes in brain health and potentially heighten your risk of dementia. A new meta-analysis found a solid link between heart function and brain volume, focusing on the connection between systolic and diastolic dysfunction and reduced brain size. This study, including data from nearly 11,000 participants, suggests that maintaining good heart health may help to preserve brain health and memory, highlighting heart and brain health correlations. News Directory 3 is here to provide these crucial findings. Explore these connections and the need for early detection and treatment of heart problems. Discover what’s next in this fascinating area of research.
Early Heart Problems Linked to Reduced Brain Volume, Dementia Risk
updated June 17, 2025
Early indicators of heart trouble may coincide with changes in brain health, potentially signaling the onset of dementia, according to a recent meta-analysis. The research, which examined the relationship between heart function and brain volume, suggests an association, but does not definitively prove that heart problems directly cause brain cell loss.
The study, featuring data from 10,889 participants with an average age of 67 across Europe and the U.S., focused on early signs of heart problems, specifically systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Systolic dysfunction occurs when the heart’s left ventricle struggles to efficiently pump blood. Diastolic dysfunction involves the left ventricle’s inability to properly relax and fill with blood between heartbeats. Brain volumes were measured using MRI scans.
The analysis revealed that individuals with moderate to severe systolic dysfunction were more likely to exhibit smaller total brain volume compared to those with normal systolic function. Similarly, diastolic dysfunction correlated with reduced total brain volume and a smaller hippocampus, a brain region vital for memory.
Frank J. Wolters, MD, PhD, of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, led the meta-analysis. “This review shows that better heart health is associated with larger brain volumes, suggesting that the preservation of heart function could help maintain brain health and memory and thinking skills during the aging process,” Wolters said. “These results add to the importance of early detection and treatment of heart problems.”
“The meta-analysis shows that even mild diastolic dysfunction is associated with adverse brain health,” Wolters said. “Evaluating people who have heart problems — especially impaired diastolic function — for problems with memory and thinking skills could help us detect any cognitive decline early and start interventions.”
What’s next
Wolters emphasized the need for further research to solidify the connection between heart health and brain health, particularly linking imaging results to critically important health outcomes. He also noted a limitation: the study’s predominantly white participant base, which restricts the generalizability of the findings to more diverse populations. Future studies should address this to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between heart health, brain volume, and dementia risk.