8 Brain And Heart Health Rules For A Longer Life
In 2023, dementia and Alzheimer's disease were listed as the leading cause of death in England and Wales.
The second most common cause of death was heart disease, which affected 10% of all those who died in the period.
Recent data shared in the 2025 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association has underscored years of research suggesting brain and heart health are linked.
Their stats show that a 160% increase in dementia worldwide over the past 30 years follows the trend of heart disease, which is up 111% globally in the same time period.
In a press release, the American Heart Association's former president and current chief clinical science officer, neurologist Dr Mitchell S. V. Elkind, said: 'We now know that many of the same health risk factors that cause heart disease and stroke also contribute to a decline in overall brain health.'
Dr Elkind shared that the risk of these conditions can be lowered by following eight rules, however.
Dr Elkind noted that the brain and heart connection is helpful in some ways, as helping one helps another.
'Using many of the same tools and information that have helped us successfully address cardiovascular risk factors and reduce the burden of heart disease over the past several decades, we should be able to do the same for brain disorders and promote brain health,' he said.
The expert recommended following the American Heart Association's Life Essential 8 rules for both brain and heart benefits.
These are:
Staying active
Giving up smoking, if you're a smoker
Getting enough sleep
Staying at a healthy weight
Controlling your cholesterol
Managing your blood sugar
Managing your blood pressure.
Last year, the medical journal The Lancet wrote that almost 45% of dementia cases could be preventable with some lifestyle changes.
A lot of these overlapped with the heart health company's advice; stopping smoking, exercising, managing cholesterol, sticking to a healthy weight, and managing your blood pressure all made their list.
'Just like with heart disease and stroke, most brain disease is preventable,' Dr Elkind said.
'It's critical that as a society and as individuals we understand and make the changes needed to improve health outcomes from brain disease and, more importantly, prevent them to begin with.'
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Subcutaneous amycretin Phase 1b/2a trial – The trial investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and proof-of-concept of once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin in 125 people with overweight or obesity. The trial was a combined single ascending dose, multiple ascending dose and dose-response trial investigating three different maintenance doses with a total treatment duration of up to 36 weeks. About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit , Facebook , Instagram , X , LinkedIn and YouTube . Contacts for further information _______________________ References The Lancet: Dahl K, Toubro, S, Dey S, et al. Amycretin, a novel, unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist administered subcutaneously: Results of a randomised, controlled, phase 1b/2a study. Dahl, K, et al. (2025). Amycretin, a Novel, Unimolecular GLP-1 and Amylin Receptor Agonist: Results of a Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial. Poster 2002-LB. American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions, Chicago, US, June 20 – 23, 2025. The Lancet: Gasiorek A, Heydorn A, Gabery S, et al. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the first-in-class GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist, amycretin: a first-in-human, phase 1, randomised, placebo-controlled study. Novo Nordisk Company Announcement. Novo Nordisk to advance subcutaneous and oral amycretin for weight management into phase 3 clinical development. Available at: Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
