American Heart Association Launches Center for the Brain to Advance Heart-Brain Health

The American Heart Association has announced the establishment of the American Heart Association Center for the Brain™, a new initiative aimed at advancing science, deepening understanding, and helping people live longer, healthier lives by focusing on the connection between heart and brain health. The announcement comes amid growing scientific evidence that underscores the close connection between heart and brain health. The Center will bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, advocates, and communities to explore the heart-brain connection and translate knowledge into action. Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, emphasized that heart health and brain health cannot be viewed in isolation, and that the Center builds on the American Stroke Association's work since 1998.

The initiative highlights that many factors affecting the heart also affect the brain, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Managing these risk factors and following healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as those outlined in the American Heart Association Life’s Essential 8™, can support brain health and healthier aging. To date, the Heart Association has awarded nearly $800 million to support scientific research related to the brain and stroke. Mitch Elkind, M.D., M.S., FAHA, chief science officer for brain health and stroke, noted that advances in research are creating new opportunities to protect brain health and prevent disease earlier. Since its founding in 1924, the American Heart Association has helped reduce death rates from cardiovascular disease by half and deaths from stroke by one-third. Resources to help protect brain health throughout life are available at Heart.org.