Apr 01, 2014 03:50 PM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

People who are heart healthy as young adults are more likely to remain mentally sharp in mid-life, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that having blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels slightly higher than the recommended guidelines in early adulthood is associated with lower cognitive function in mid-life.

"It's amazing that as a young adult, mildly elevated cardiovascular risks seem to matter for your brain health later in life," Kristine Yaffe, M.D., study author and a neuropsychiatrist, epidemiologist and professor at the University of California-San Francisco, said in a statement. "We're not talking about old age issues, but lifelong issues."

For the 25-year study, researchers collected data on more than 3,300 people between the ages of 18 and 30. Participants had their blood pressure, fasting blood sugar and cholesterol levels checked every two to five years. Researchers each person's cumulative cardiovascular health for more than 25 years,

At the end of the study, participants took three tests measuring memory, thinking speed and mental flexibility.

They found that those had blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels slightly higher than the American Heart Association's scored lower on cognitive function tests in their 40s and 50s.

Researchers said the study is one of the first comprehensive long-term studies looking at key heart disease and stroke risk factors' effects on cognitive function in this age group. Prior research showed similar effects of mid-life and late-life cardiovascular health on brainpower in late life.

The study is part of the ongoing multi-center Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

"Our study is hopeful, because it tells us we could maybe make a dent in the risks of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia by emphasizing the importance of controlling risk factors among younger people," Yaffe said.

Their findings were published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

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