The aging of the cardiovascular system contributes to the aging of the brain. As the authors of today’s open access review paper note, the relationship isn’t straightforward and is mediated by a range of mechanisms that are far less direct than the pressure damage caused by hypertension, or the consequences of a reduced blood supply to the brain. One thing to consider about this relationship is that some fraction of cardiovascular disease in the wealthier regions of the world appears to be self-inflicted. Hunter-gatherers such as the Tismane exhibit little cardiovascular disease. To the degree that the b…
The Heart-Brain Axis, Cardiovascular Disease and Dementia
The aging of the cardiovascular system contributes to the aging of the brain. As the authors of today’s open access review paper note, the relationship isn’t straightforward and is mediated by a range of mechanisms that are far less direct than the pressure damage caused by hypertension, or the consequences of a reduced blood supply to the brain. One thing to consider about this relationship is that some fraction of cardiovascular disease in the wealthier regions of the world appears to be self-inflicted. Hunter-gatherers such as the Tismane exhibit little cardiovascular disease. To the degree that the b…