Turns out that size matters after all, but mainly when it comes to brains. And brain size, coincidentally, depends largely on blood flow. At least that's what researchers at Boston University concluded when they looked at MRI scans of brains and hearts of more than 1,500 people who had participated in the Framingham Offspring Study. HealthDay reports that the researchers found that people within the lowest and middle range of cardiac index had significantly lower brain volumes than people who had the highest cardiac index. The researchers also found that the association between cardiac index and brain volume was strongest in people under 60 years old. Study authors advise us that exercising regularly, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight, not
smoking and managing high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes —
will lead to better heart, blood vessel and brain health.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
It would be interesting to know which aspect is the cause and which is the effect. Do people with less cardiac output have smaller brain volumes as a result or do those with smaller brain volumes require less effort from the heart? Most likely this can be adjusted with greater long term brain effort given that the brain is elastic when it is used more.