Cardiovascular health, vascular age, and the preservation of brain health

Cerebrovascular disease, or when the blood vessels in the brain stop working properly, and stroke are two conditions that can lead to shortened lifespan and poor quality of life. As the links between these conditions and poor mental health (e.g., depression or dementia) are becoming increasingly clear, it is becoming more important to learn how to reduce the risk of stroke as a way of better maintaining mental health. To improve healthy aging and reduce the impact of cerebrovascular disease and poor mental health, we need to focus on reducing risk factors, such as smoking and sedentary lifestyle, much earlier than we do now. Our program uses markers of vascular health and mental health from patients and an analytical approach that will help us better understand how vascular health and brain health are related. Our long-term goal is to improve brain health to support healthy aging.