Eight Habits That Protect Heart Health and Slow Aging

Adopting healthy habits, such as eating fruits and vegetables and regular physical activity, can sometimes be difficult. But a new study published in an open access journal American Heart Association contributed more reasons justifying Behavior change.

Advantage of the best heart health may be associated with positive influence Healthy lifestyle factors about biological aging (the age of the body and its cells), according to new research published in Journal of the American Heart Association.

“The results of our study show that regardless of actual age, Adopting a healthier lifestyle and controlling heart disease risk factors is associated with younger biological age and a lower risk of heart disease or stroke.death from these conditions and death from any cause,” the doctor said in a statement. Jiangtao Malead author of the study.

Dr. Ma is an assistant professor of nutritional epidemiology and data science in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Tufts University in Bostonin USA.

In dialogue with InformationDr. Jorge Lerman, former President Argentine Society of Cardiology and Consultant Professor of Cardiology at Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), said of the paper: “This is very valuable work based on research that has looked at risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the population of Framingham, near Boston in the United States, since 1948. In the newly published study, participants are second and third generations of Framingan residents who agreed to cooperate with epidemiological research.

The specialist noted: “8 cardiovascular risk factors have already been identified. New research describes that the mechanism DNA methylation This can be beneficial if people take the necessary actions to control risk factors. This can make each person’s biological age less than their chronological age, that is, the number of years they have lived. The study results provide more evidence for people to adopt healthy habits to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke.”

What is it recommended for? control risk factors is:

1. Adopt a healthy diet that includes whole foods, plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and cooking with non-tropical oils such as olive and canola.
2. Quit or stop using tobacco products
3. Sleep peacefully and for at least 7 hours.
4. Lose excess weight
5. Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels
6. Control your blood pressure
7. Monitor your blood glucose levels

The study analyzed whether a chemical modification process known as DNA methylationwhich regulates gene expression may be one of the mechanisms by which cardiovascular health factors influence cellular aging and risk of death.

DNA methylation level biomarker most promising for estimate biological age. To some extent, biological age is determined by genetic makeup and may also be influenced by age-related factors. Life style And stress.

Researchers studied data from 5682 adults. The average age was 56 years. 56% of the participants were women who took part in the study. Framingham.

Through interviews, physical examination and laboratory tests, all participants were assessed using a tool called “The main thing for life 8″ from the American Heart Association.

The tool assesses the state of the cardiovascular system between 0 and 100 (100 is the best score) using a combination of four behavioral indicators (dietary intake, physical activity, hours of sleep at night and smoking) and four clinical indicators (body mass index, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure).

Each participant was also assessed using four instruments that estimate biological age from DNA methylation and a fifth tool that evaluates genetic tendency human to accelerated biological aging.

Participants were followed for 11 to 14 years for new cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular death, or death from any cause.

The researchers found that for every 13-point increase in Life’s Essential 8 score, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease for the first time decreased by about 35%, cardiovascular disease mortality decreased by 36%, and mortality from any cause decreased. decreased by 29%.

In participants with a genetic risk profile that increased the likelihood of accelerated biological aging, the measure had a greater impact on outcomes, possibly through DNA methylation. That is, DNA methylation is Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause death by 39%, 39%, and 78%.respectively.

Overall, it has been estimated that about 20% of the association between Life’s Essential 8 scores and cardiovascular outcomes is due to the influence of cardiovascular health factors on DNA methylation. In contrast, for participants with higher genetic risk, the association was almost 40%.

“Although there are biological age calculators on the market based on DNA methylation, we do not have good guidance on whether people need to know their epigenetic age,” Dr. Ma said.

“Our message is that Everyone should consider eight health factors associated with heart disease and stroke: eating healthy foods; be more active; give up tobacco; to sleep calmly; control weight; and maintain healthy cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure levels,” he stressed.

Bye, Randy ForakerProfessor of Medicine, Institute of Informatics, Data Science and Biostatistics and Director of the Center for Population Health Informatics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louisstated that the results are consistent with previous studies.

“We know that modifiable risk factors and DNA methylation are independently associated with cardiovascular disease. “This study adds that DNA methylation may serve as a mediator between risk factors and cardiovascular disease,” Foraker said.

“The study shows how cardiovascular health may influence biological aging and has important implications for healthy aging and the prevention of cardiovascular disease and possibly other diseases,” he added.

The study analyzed health data from a subset of participants who attended Framingham Heart Study examinations in the offspring group from 2005 to 2008 and in the third generation group from 2008 to 2011.

Participants were followed for an average of 14 years for the children of the original participants and 11 years for the grandchildren.

consulted Information, Daniel Piskorcex-president Argentine Federation of Cardiologycommented: “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in our country, and in virtually every country in the world.”

Although genetic load has a significant influence, “ Life style “This is a major variable affecting cardiovascular health,” he said.

“Starting in pregnancy, a mother who significantly increases her weight puts her baby at greater risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. During childhood, time spent in front of a screen, be it a mobile phone or watching television, also indicates a greater tendency to become obese. future. Today, 80% of jobs are sedentary, and less than 10% of the population achieves recommended physical activity.. Poor nutrition with high calorie intake, based more on taste than on the concept of health, also has negative consequences, as does environmental pollution,” Piskorc noted.

“The study published by the American Heart Association clearly shows that addressing all of these threats and barriers affects more than just the evolution of human health. “Additionally, it can be measured over time using intermediate biomarkers that show how lifestyle changes benefit cardiovascular health.”

A limitation of the study is that the participants were predominantly from European origin. Thus, the interactions between the 8 essential components of life and genetic aging found in this study may not be generalizable to people of other races or ethnicities.

They are now expanding the study to include people from other ethnic groups to further explore the relationship between cardiovascular disease risk factors and DNA methylation, Dr. Ma said.