February is American Heart Month, also called Healthy Heart Month. It’s a great time for health care staff to share an important message with patients, families, and communities about how everyday choices affect long-term wellness: taking care of your heart also helps protect your brain.

How the Heart and Brain Are Connected

The brain needs a steady supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to work well. A healthy heart helps make that happen. When blood vessels are damaged, the brain may not get what it needs.

Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, and low physical activity can damage blood vessels over time. These conditions raise the risk for heart disease and for brain conditions such as vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

High blood pressure is a good example. Many people do not feel symptoms, but it can quietly damage blood vessels in the brain. Diabetes can also damage blood vessels and increase systemic inflammation. Over time, these changes can affect memory, thinking, and decision-making.

The good news is that many of these risks can be reduced. Steps that protect the heart often protect the brain too.

Use February to Amplify Prevention Messages

American Heart Month is a great opportunity for tribal organizations to actively promote heart and brain health together. Prevention messages work best when people hear them often and in different ways.

You can help by sharing short, clear messages through social media, newsletters, clinic displays, and community events. Simple messages about blood pressure control, diabetes management, healthy eating, movement, and avoiding commercial tobacco can help people see how heart and brain health are connected.

In clinical settings, even brief conversations matter. Explaining how managing blood pressure or blood sugar can help protect memory gives patients a clear reason to take action.

Share American Indian and Alaska Native-Specific Dementia Risk Reduction Resources

The International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2) has dementia risk reduction flyers created specifically for American Indians and Alaska Natives. These flyers use clear language and culturally relevant messaging. They are easy to share in clinics, at events, and online.

The flyers emphasize an important point: dementia is not a normal or inevitable part of aging. Caring for heart health is one way to help protect brain health over time.

Ways Health Care Staff Can Take Action This Month

• Share heart–brain health messages on program or clinic social media accounts
• Include dementia risk reduction information in Heart Month events
• Post or hand out flyers in clinics and community spaces
• Talk with patients about how heart health affects memory and thinking
• Encourage coworkers to help spread prevention messages throughout February

American Heart Month is more than a reminder—it’s a chance to build awareness and support healthier choices. By promoting the connection between heart and brain health, health care staff help support healthier aging and stronger communities.

The Dementia Clinical Support Line offers on-demand support for Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal, and urban Indian health programs at no cost to you. 

This support line connects providers with dementia care experts for culturally grounded support for real-time guidance on: 

• Screening and assessment
• Diagnosis and treatment options 
• Care planning 
• Complex cases 
• Caregiver support

The TRIAD (Training and Resources for the IHS on Alzheimer’s and Dementia) Program operates the Dementia Clinical Support Line. 

Learn more and download this flyer to share with your teams and partners. 

Check out these helpful Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving and provider resources on the IHS Alzheimer’s Program and partner websites:

• The National Institute on Aging has several infographics to help understand the different types of dementia. 
• The Alzheimer's Association's Caregiver Center offers tips and support for caregivers.