Scientists at UT Health in San Antonio found that people who exercise and keep their blood sugar normal during middle age tend to think more clearly when they get older. The effect was especially strong for Hispanic adults.
We already know that heart problems in middle age can raise the chances of memory loss and dementia. This new research looks at how specific heart‑health factors affect the brain in different ethnic groups.
The study followed 402 adults from San Antonio. About half of them were Hispanic and the rest were non‑Hispanic white. Their average age was almost 58 years, and most were women.
When the researchers compared the groups, they saw two clear patterns:
- Hispanic participants who were physically active showed a slower drop in thinking skills.
- Non‑Hispanic white participants with lower fasting blood‑sugar levels also kept their minds sharper.
“Improving heart health with simple lifestyle changes could reduce the burden of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, especially in high‑risk groups,” said Dr. Claudia Satizabal, a population health expert at UT Health.
Why Heart Health Matters for the Brain
As people live longer, diseases like dementia become more common. In the United States, about 6.7 million people have Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows that up to 40 % of Alzheimer’s cases are linked to factors we can change, such as diet, smoking, exercise, blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
The American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7” (LS7) score measures these seven factors. Higher LS7 scores have been tied to better memory, healthier brain scans, and lower dementia risk. But the benefits can vary by population.
Hispanic older adults face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s. About 14 % of Hispanic seniors have the disease, compared with 10 % of non‑Hispanic whites. Mexican Americans, the largest Hispanic group in the U.S., also have higher rates of diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol—conditions that raise dementia risk.
South Texas Provides a Unique Look
Hispanic people are often under‑represented in Alzheimer’s studies, making it hard to find prevention strategies that work for everyone. To fill this gap, the UT Health team studied participants from two long‑running projects: the San Antonio Heart Study (SAHS) and the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (SALSA).
SAHS tracked more than 5,000 people from the late 1970s onward to understand why some groups develop diabetes and heart disease. SALSA later followed many of the same participants to learn how chronic illnesses affect aging.
How the Researchers Measured Brain Changes
Participants took the Mini‑Mental State Examination (MMSE) up to four times. The test asks simple questions about memory, attention, and problem‑solving. The researchers used statistical models that considered age, gender, income, and education.
Key Findings
- Any regular physical activity, even light exercise, was linked to slower cognitive decline in Mexican American participants.
- For non‑Hispanic white participants, keeping fasting blood‑sugar at 126 mg/dL or lower was associated with a slower loss of thinking abilities.
These results suggest that heart health in middle age can shape brain health many years later, but the most important factors differ by ethnicity.
Future work will follow the same volunteers in the new San Antonio Heart and Mind Study (SAHMS), adding brain scans and other advanced tests to deepen our understanding.