People who start to show early signs of heart problems may also be experiencing early changes in their brain health, according to new research.
A recent meta-analysis published on March 26, 2025, in the journal Neurology® suggests that people with heart issues may have smaller brain volumes, which can be a warning sign of dementia.
While the study does not prove that heart problems cause damage to the brain, it does show a strong connection between the two.
The study was led by Dr. Frank J. Wolters from Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands. He explained that maintaining heart health might also help protect the brain as people grow older.
“Better heart health is linked with a larger brain volume,” said Dr. Wolters. “This means that keeping the heart in good condition could help people keep their memory and thinking skills stronger as they age.”
The researchers looked at data from seven different studies conducted in Europe and the United States. Altogether, they analyzed information from nearly 11,000 people, with an average age of 67. These people had undergone heart tests and MRI brain scans.
The heart tests checked for two types of early heart dysfunction: systolic and diastolic. Systolic dysfunction happens when the heart’s left side cannot pump blood properly. Diastolic dysfunction occurs when the heart doesn’t relax and fill with blood as it should between beats.
The results showed that people with moderate to severe systolic dysfunction tended to have smaller brains compared to those with healthy hearts. The same was true for people with diastolic problems—they had smaller total brain volumes and especially smaller volumes in the hippocampus, the brain area involved in memory.
What is important about this study is that even people with only mild diastolic dysfunction showed signs of poor brain health. According to Dr. Wolters, this suggests that doctors should also check for memory and thinking problems in people who have heart issues. Catching signs of cognitive decline early could lead to earlier support and treatment.
However, the researchers pointed out that more studies are needed to fully understand how heart health affects brain health. They also want to look more closely at how these brain changes might lead to real-life problems with memory or decision-making.
One limitation of the study is that most participants were white, so the findings might not apply to people from other ethnic or racial backgrounds. More research involving diverse populations will be necessary to confirm these results.
In the meantime, the study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain. Taking care of your heart by staying active, eating healthy, and managing conditions like high blood pressure may also protect your brain from aging too fast.
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