A healthy heart in your 20s ‘prevents Alzheimer’s – delaying brain ageing by 14 years’

HAVING a healthy heart in your 20s boosts brain power in middle age, a study claims.

It suggests staying well in our early years can protect against diseases such as dementia.

Experts found young adults who exercised and ate well were less likely to suffer brain shrinkage in later life, which can be a warning sign of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Those with the best heart health had brains up to 14 years younger when they reached their 50s than unfit youngsters.

Dr Michael Bancks, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said: “These findings are exciting because these are all changes that anyone can make at a young age to help themselves live a long and healthy life.

“This may mean that heart health may have an impact on brain function in early life.”

The study, published in the journal Neurology, followed 518 people with an average age of 51 for 30 years.

Medics looked at several factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, physical activity, diet, weight and smoking.

Scans showed those fittest when young had significantly larger brains in middle age.

Dr Bancks said people also did better in thinking tests if they had good heart health.

He added: “We know that when people take certain steps like exercising and eating well, they have healthier hearts.”

At least 850,000 Brits have dementia.

"There is currently no cure but some drugs can control the symptoms.

Dr David Reynolds, Chief Scientific Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This study backs up the motto ‘what is good for your heart is good for the head’.

“By following people for 30 years, these US researchers have shown how lifestyle decisions made in our 20s can impact us in middle age.

“What this study doesn’t tell us is if these benefits in our 50s have any effect on our dementia risk. The message may be that it is never too early to start taking care of our hearts and heads.”

Alzheimer’s Society head of research Dr James Pickett said: "There is already lots of evidence that exercising, eating a healthy diet and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol are important in reducing dementia risk in people in their 40s and 50s.

"But this study goes further - suggesting there may also be cognitive benefits in younger adults in their 20s.

"It seems never too early, or too late, to start making lifestyle changes that could reduce your dementia risk.”

It comes as another study reveals nine lifestyle factors that can help prevent dementia.

Scientists said avoiding the nine factors could prevent one in three cases of Alzheimer's disease.

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