Cited by 411Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchCardiovascular Health and Risk FactorsHealth Promotion and Cardiovascular Prevention

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 196 of the 203 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 11 of the 145 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Defining Optimal Brain Health in Adults: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

Open access

Abstract

Cognitive function is an important component of aging and predicts quality of life, functional independence, and risk of institutionalization. Advances in our understanding of the role of cardiovascular risks have shown them to be closely associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. Because many cardiovascular risks are modifiable, it may be possible to maintain brain health and to prevent dementia in later life. The purpose of this American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association presidential advisory is to provide an initial definition of optimal brain health in adults and guidance on how to maintain brain health. We identify metrics to define optimal brain health in adults based on inclusion of factors that could be measured, monitored, and modified. From these practical considerations, we identified 7 metrics to define optimal brain health in adults that originated from AHA’s Life’s Simple 7: 4 ideal health behaviors (nonsmoking, physical activity at goal levels, healthy diet consistent with current guideline levels, and body mass index <25 kg/m 2 ) and 3 ideal health factors (untreated blood pressure <120/<80 mm Hg, untreated total cholesterol <200 mg/dL, and fasting blood glucose <100 mg/dL). In addition, in relation to maintenance of cognitive health, we recommend following previously published guidance from the AHA/American Stroke Association, Institute of Medicine, and Alzheimer’s Association that incorporates control of cardiovascular risks and suggest social engagement and other related strategies. We define optimal brain health but recognize that the truly ideal circumstance may be uncommon because there is a continuum of brain health as demonstrated by AHA’s Life’s Simple 7. Therefore, there is opportunity to improve brain health through primordial prevention and other interventions. Furthermore, although cardiovascular risks align well with brain health, we acknowledge that other factors differing from those related to cardiovascular health may drive cognitive health. Defining optimal brain health in adults and its maintenance is consistent with the AHA’s Strategic Impact Goal to improve cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% and to reduce deaths resulting from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20% by the year 2020. This work in defining optimal brain health in adults serves to provide the AHA/American Stroke Association with a foundation for a new strategic direction going forward in cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1161/str.0000000000000148

Cites

196 of 196 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

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Claims the paper makes

74 Not checked yet · 29 Own interpretation · 18 No basis given · 4 Partly supported · 4 Own method · accuracy not yet measured

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 36
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 30
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Citations

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Committee on Preventing Dementia and Cognitive Impairment. Leshner AI, Landis S, Stroud C, Downey A, eds. In: Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Way Forward. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2017:1–130. http://www.nap.edu/24782. Accessed June 23, 2017.
  2. Welsh KA, Breitner JC, Magruder-Habib KM. Detection of dementia in the elderly using telephone screening of cognitive status. Neuropsychiatry Neuropsychol Behav Neurol. 1993;6:103–110.
  3. Glymour M. Identifying Social Determinants of Old Age Cognitive Function [thesis]. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University; 2004.
  4. 10.1097/01.hjh.0000059028.82022.89 · DOI
  5. Bosch J; HOPE Investigators. The effect of blood pressure and cholesterol lowering on cognition. Circulation. 2016;134:e703–e704.

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Metadata

Authors
Gorelick, P. B., Furie, K. L., Iadecola, C., Smith, E. E., Waddy, S. P., Lloyd-Jones, D. M., Bae, H.-J., Bauman, M. A., Dichgans, M., Duncan, P. W., Girgus, M., Howard, V. J., Lazar, R. M., Seshadri, S., Testai, F. D., van Gaal, S., Yaffe, K., Wasiak, H., & Zerna, C.
Affiliations
Also a member of Maintenance of Brain Health writing group section. Also a member of Optimal Brain Health writing group section. Lead of Maintenance of Brain Health writing group section. Lead of Public Health Impact of Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, Stroke, and Cardiovascular and Stroke Risks writing group section. Senior reviewer.
Venue
Stroke
Published
2017-10
Volume
48
Issue
10
Pages
e284-e303
ISSN
  • 0039-2499 (ISSN-L)
  • 1524-4628
OpenAlex
W2750828728
Cited by
411
References
203
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 56 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 61 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 2
FWCI
4.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Stroke (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Open access LMU (Ludwid Maxmilian's Universitat Munchen) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • Seoul National University Open Repository (Seoul National University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • American Heart Association
  • Office of Science
  • National Institute on Aging (P30AG010129)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS034179, R01NS095692, R37NS089323, R01NS100447, R21NS096972, R01NS037853, R01NS095441, R01NS017950)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Health Promotion and Cardiovascular Prevention
Keywords
cognitive health, dementia prevention, cardiovascular risk factors, Life's Essential 8, Life's Simple 7, blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, physical activity, diet, smoking, body mass index, social engagement, primordial prevention, cognitive impairment, aging
MeSH terms
Adult, American Heart Association, Brain, Cognition Disorders, Health Promotion, Humans, United States, Health Behavior, Stroke, Advisory Committees

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