alex revision
August 3rd, 2010, 06:37 AM
Poor heart pumping speeds brain aging
Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:15:39 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=137273§ionid=3510210
Researchers have found that poor cardiac pumping speeds the process of brain aging and increases the risk of developing dementia.
A study, led by a team from Boston University, found that healthy people with sluggish hearts that pumped out less blood had "older" brains on scans than others.
The results, published in the Circulation Journal, showed that a poor cardiac output causes the brain to shrink (atrophy), aging it by an average of two years.
As part of the research, the 1,500 participants who were involved in the study, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. Despite their smaller brain volumes, no obvious signs of reduced brain function were visible.
According to doctors, however, severe cases of brain atrophy can be an early sign of dementia.
The findings, which shed light on the relationship of the heart and brain, suggest that a fit and strong heart keeps the brain alert and slows down the process of aging.
"These participants are not sick people. A very small number have heart disease. The observation that nearly a third of the entire sample has low cardiac index and that lower cardiac index is related to smaller brain volume is concerning and requires further study," said lead researcher Dr. Angela Jefferson.
Among the many reasons underlying the effect of blood pumping on brain health, doctors argue that a lower volume of blood pumping from the heart might reduce flow to the brain, providing less oxygen and fewer nutrients needed for brain cells.
This in turn ages the brain faster.
For a follow up study, the team from the Boston School of Medicine will further examine and monitor the 1,500 participants involved in the case study, to see if the brain changes affect memory and cognitive abilities over time and how.
Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:15:39 GMT
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=137273§ionid=3510210
Researchers have found that poor cardiac pumping speeds the process of brain aging and increases the risk of developing dementia.
A study, led by a team from Boston University, found that healthy people with sluggish hearts that pumped out less blood had "older" brains on scans than others.
The results, published in the Circulation Journal, showed that a poor cardiac output causes the brain to shrink (atrophy), aging it by an average of two years.
As part of the research, the 1,500 participants who were involved in the study, underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. Despite their smaller brain volumes, no obvious signs of reduced brain function were visible.
According to doctors, however, severe cases of brain atrophy can be an early sign of dementia.
The findings, which shed light on the relationship of the heart and brain, suggest that a fit and strong heart keeps the brain alert and slows down the process of aging.
"These participants are not sick people. A very small number have heart disease. The observation that nearly a third of the entire sample has low cardiac index and that lower cardiac index is related to smaller brain volume is concerning and requires further study," said lead researcher Dr. Angela Jefferson.
Among the many reasons underlying the effect of blood pumping on brain health, doctors argue that a lower volume of blood pumping from the heart might reduce flow to the brain, providing less oxygen and fewer nutrients needed for brain cells.
This in turn ages the brain faster.
For a follow up study, the team from the Boston School of Medicine will further examine and monitor the 1,500 participants involved in the case study, to see if the brain changes affect memory and cognitive abilities over time and how.