Email from Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation   Dear John, As February comes to a close, I wanted to share some thoughts on this heart health month by highlighting the critical ways in which heart health and brain health go hand-in-hand. Both heart disease and Alzheimer’s share many of the same modifiable risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity, and poor diet. By addressing these risk factors, we protect not only our cardiovascular system but also reduce our risk of cognitive decline. As you know at the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation (ARPF), we use the 4 Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention® – Diet & Supplements, Stress Management, Physical & Mental Exercise, and Spiritual Fitness – to guide our strategies for overall health. Here’s how each pillar can strengthen your heart while also safeguarding your brain: 1. Diet & Supplements - A predominantly plant-based, Mediterranean-style diet supports healthy blood vessels, which reduces the workload on the heart and may improve blood flow from your heart to the brain. 2. Stress Management - Chronic stress can worsen hypertension and inflammation, both major risk factors for heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Techniques like yoga or Kirtan Kriya meditation help lower stress hormones and promote healthy blood pressure. 3. Physical & Mental Exercise - Regular physical activity not only lowers the risk of heart disease but also enhances blood flow to the brain, supporting clearer thinking and reduced dementia risk. Mental exercises keep cognitive function sharp, complementing heart-healthy habits. 4. Spiritual Fitness - A sense of purpose and connectedness can decrease inflammation and encourage a heart-healthy lifestyle, while also improving mental well-being and cognitive resilience. By adopting these pillars – supported by landmark studies like the FINGER study – our community can take meaningful steps to preserve both cardiovascular and cognitive health. Even small changes in daily habits, such as walking more, meditating regularly, or focusing on nutrient-rich meals, can make a significant difference. In fact, we'd like to invite you to enhance your well-being and memory by participating in our Meditate For Your Memory Challenge a week-long event from March 17-21. Enjoy daily Kirtan Kriya meditation sessions led by experienced teachers – this challenge offers an opportunity to kickstart your brain health journey. Thank you for joining us in advancing heart-brain wellness. As we move forward, let’s continue to invest in strategies that nourish both our hearts and our minds. REGISTER FOR FREE Yours in health, Chris Walling, PsyD, MBA, C-IAYT Vice President for Education & Outreach Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation (ARPF) ARPF research was cited in a new paper published in the medical journal BMC Neurology. Here is the article quoted: Changes in Neural Connectivity and Memory Following a Yoga Intervention for Older Adults: A Pilot Study. Easy Ways to Support ARPF Facebook fundraiser: ask your friends and family to donate for your birthday or another special occasion. Facebook offers this easy option, and it doesn’t cost you anything. If you don’t have a Facebook account, ask your young family members to create it for you. Donate a vehicle: if you have a car, truck, motorcycle, RV, or boat that you don't want, it can be put to good use as an ARPF donation. This nationwide service is a great way to show support     Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation | PO Box 30783 | Tucson, AZ 85751-0783 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice