Your Balance Predicts Heart and Brain Health

Balance is a foundational skill your body uses constantly, from standing up and reaching to walking across a room. It’s also a powerful indicator of overall health, especially heart and brain function

Research shows that impaired balance predicts future cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, even in adults with no prior heart conditions

Poor balance in older adults is also strongly linked to increased dementia risk. Those with lower balance times face significantly higher rates of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia

To assess your balance at home, try doing simple tests like standing on one leg for 10 seconds or completing the “timed up and go” test in under 12 seconds

Incorporate activities like heel-to-toe walking, chair-supported squats, stability ball use, gentle tai chi or yoga, and ankle strengthening exercises into your daily workout routine to improve your balance

Your Balance Predicts Heart and Brain Health - AI Podcast