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Heart and brain health for African-Americans

What's good for your heart
is good for your brain.

A public awareness program of the American Heart Association and Alzheimer's Association

African-Americans are especially at risk for stroke and Alzheimer's. They have a higher risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular (heart) disease, all conditions that may damage blood vessels.

Conditions that threaten to damage the heart and its blood vessels also threaten to damage the brain and its blood vessels, increasing the chance of stroke and Alzheimer's.
 
 

Learn more


A Guide to Heart and Brain Health for African-Americans (5 pages)


African-Americans and Alzheimer's disease


Power to end stroke

New awareness program
The Alzheimer’s Association and the American Heart Association, along with its American Stroke Association division, have partnered on a new public awareness program to help African-Americans manage their heart and brain health. The program - What's good for your heart is good for your brain - launched in February to mark Black History Month and American Heart Month.

Brain food

Your brain depends on healthy arteries. With each heartbeat, arteries carry about 20 to 25 percent of your blood to your brain, where billions of cells use the oxygen and fuel your blood carries.