55 million people suffer dementia worldwide with numbers expected to double every 20 years. Understanding the link between our heart health and brain function is critical, illuminating the profound impact that heart health has on preventing dementia.Dr. William Li, an expert in cardiovascular and metabolic health. He reveals how caring for our heart is not just about longevity but maintaining sharp, effective brain function as we age. His groundbreaking work has impacted more than seventy diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Dr. Li is also a New York Times best-selling author.In today’s episode, Dr. Li explains how simple lifestyle choices in diet, exercise and sleep can drastically shape our brain's health and stave off dementia.🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30*Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune systemIf you want to uncover the right foods for your body, 👉 zoe.com/podcast, for 10% off your membership.Follow ZOE on InstagramTimecodes00:00 Introduction01:23 Quickfire questions03:30 Understanding dementia and Alzheimer's disease04:50 Dementia versus ageing06:35 The role of blood vessels in brain health07:55 How circulation affects brain function09:23 What causes blood clots and strokes?11:06 The importance of maintaining healthy blood vessels12:15 The impact of lifestyle choices on brain health15:01 What happens in our brains when we sleep?19:35 What is the glymphatic system?22:40 Vascular dementia may be the most common form of dementia24:35 The role of glucose in brain function27:10 What causes dementia and why does it happen when we get older?29:00 Preventing dementia with lifestyle changes31:10 What are healthy blood vessels like?37:50 The surprising role of EPCs in brain repair41:30 Can you slow down or reverse dementia?52:08 The connection between gut health and brain health51:40 The importance of exercise for brain health56:30 How to avoid dementia01:01:16 The link between mental health and cardiovascular disease📚 Dr. William Li’s books: Eat to Beat Disease Eat to Beat Your Diet 📚 Books from our ZOE Scientists: Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Relevant studies: A human brain vascular atlas reveals diverse mediators of Alzheimer’s risk, published in Nature Heart-brain connections: Phenotypic and genetic insights from magnetic resonance images, published in Science Cocoa flavanol consumption improves cognitive function, blood pressure control, and metabolic profile in elderly subjects: the Cocoa, Cognition, and Aging (CoCoA) Study—a randomized controlled trial, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know hereEpisode transcripts are available here.