A large number of people lose their lives every year due to heart disease, but do you know that men suffer more than women in terms of brain health.

Heart Disease In Men: Although heart disease is dangerous for both men and women, but for men it is a bigger problem. According to a new study, men with higher cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and high blood pressure may see a decline in brain health about a decade earlier than women. Studies using UK biobank data have found that high heart disease risk factors are associated with rapid brain volume loss, affecting the area of the temporal lobe that is essential for memory and sensory processing. If you manage cardiovascular risk before the age of 55, the problem can be reduced.

How was the research done?

The researchers analysed data from 34,425 participants aged between 45 and 82 at the UK Biobank who underwent abdominal and brain scans. The findings, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, showed that higher levels of belly and visceral fat were associated with reduced amounts of gray matter in the brains of both men and women. However, neurodegeneration due to cardiovascular risk factors started in men about a decade earlier than women and lasted for 2 decades.

'More impact on men'

Professor Paul Edison, from Imperial College London's Department of Brain Sciences, said in a statement: "It was important to know that heart disease had such a profound impact on dementia in men compared to women a decade ago, and it was not known before. There are important implications for how we can treat heart disease in men and women to prevent dementia in the future."

Previous studies have found that cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, are associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. However, the new study showed that "men are more susceptible to the damaging effects of cardiovascular risk than women a decade ago, with temporal lobe regions being particularly vulnerable to harmful effects."

Theresearchers analysed cardiovascular risk using the Framingham Risk Score, which considered factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes. Brain changes were measured using voxel-based morphometry, a neuroimaging technique. They found that the temporal lobes, which are essential for auditory processes, visual processing, emotional regulation and memory, were the most affected regions. These functions are often reduced for the first time in early-stage dementia.

What can men do?

The new study also highlights the importance of managing cardiovascular risks such as obesity to prevent neurodegeneration. Studies show that trying before the age of 55 can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and heart-related events such as heart attack and stroke.