How cardio exercise helps our brains as well as weight loss and heart health

Whether it’s running, biking or even just taking a brisk walk, cardio exercise (the kind that gets your heart pumping) is great for the body. Known to improve key risk factors for heart disease – such as obesity and high blood pressure – it's no surprise that cardio exercise is good news for heart health. 

However, the benefits don’t stop there. By getting in a regular cardio workout (maybe on one of the best treadmills or best rowing machines) it may be possible to protect your brain health at the same time as protecting your heart. 

Research by the American Heart Association suggests that by improving these risk factors and following a ‘heart-healthy lifestyle’ we may not only reduce our risk of heart disease but also of cognitive decline. Published in the AHA’s Updated Statistics on Heart Disease and Stroke, the study highlights an important link between cardiovascular risk factors and brain disease. 

“We are learning more about how some types of dementia are related to aging, and how some types are due to poor vascular health,” writes Mitchell S.V. Elkind, former president of the American Heart Association and professor of neurology. “Many studies show that the same healthy lifestyle behaviors that can help improve a person’s heart health can also preserve or even improve their brain health.”

So what does this ‘heart-healthy lifestyle’ entail? Well, the AHA recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, ideally spread evenly throughout the week. This recommendation is echoed by the UK’s NHS and Alzheimer's Society, which also recognises the benefit of cardio when it comes to preventing brain diseases.

Another important lifestyle factor is, of course, diet. The Mediterranean diet, for example, has been found to have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors as well as better thinking skills in later life. 

Likewise, the omega 3 fatty acids found in oily fish have been linked to improved heart and brain health. The AHA recommends eating at least two portions of fish (especially fatty fish such as mackerel and salmon) a week to get the benefits: For those who can’t eat enough fish (or if you just plain don't want to), you could try one of our best fish oil supplements. 

The causes of brain disease such as Alzheimer’s are, of course, extremely complex, but by making sensible lifestyle changes now, it's possible we can at least reduce our risk and hopefully help protect our brains as well as our hearts.