This February is REDFEB, Heart Research Australia’s heart awareness month, dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and encouraging Australians to wear red and donate to fund vital research.
Millions of Australians are at risk of heart disease, but fewer realise that keeping their heart healthy can also help protect their brain, memory, and cognitive function, reducing the risk of conditions like dementia as they age. With cardiovascular disease affecting more than 4 million Australians and remaining the leading cause of death, it’s not just your heart at stake — your brain health depends on it too.
The Heart-Brain Connection
“Heart health and brain health are intimately connected,” says Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr Miranda Say. “The brain relies on a steady supply of blood from the heart. Conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol can disrupt blood flow, increasing the risk of stroke and cognitive decline, including dementia.”
In Australia, more than 421,000 people are living with dementia in 2024 — a number projected to double by 2054. Vascular dementia, which is linked to cardiovascular health, is a growing concern. This REDFEB, Heart Research Australia urges all Australians to prioritise their heart health by adopting simple lifestyle changes that can have a profound impact on their future wellbeing.
Nicci Dent, CEO of Heart Research Australia, stresses the importance of taking proactive steps now. “Prioritising heart health isn’t just about preventing heart attacks—it’s also about safeguarding your brain health and reducing your future risk of cognitive decline, including dementia. The message is simple, what’s good for your heart health is also good for your brain health” she said.
Steps You Can Take: The 4-M Approach
As part of REDFEB, Heart Research Australia’s heart awareness month, their 4-M Approach encourages Australians to take small, simple steps that can benefit both their heart and brain health:
- Meals: High cholesterol levels can not only block the arteries of the heart, increasing the risk of heart disease, but also those leading to the brain impairing blood flow, which is crucial for cognitive health. Recent Australian research demonstrated that high cholesterol plays a key role in Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Heart Research Australia nutritionist Chloe Steele says "it's important to know what you are eating and understand how to read the backs of packets. Avoiding processed foods and keeping your diet simple and fresh can help support your heart and brain health". This February, Heart Research Australia invites all Australians to wear red and donate to support research into life-saving heart disease prevention and care.
- Movement: As we age, incorporating functional strength training — focusing on balance and strength — into our weekly routines, along with aerobic exercise like walking, becomes essential. This combination of aerobic and resistance training can help lower blood pressure, increase good cholesterol, reduce bad cholesterol, and even promote neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form new connections.
- Measurement: Regular health check-ups to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar are crucial. “Knowing your numbers” is key to preventing cardiovascular disease and helping protect cognitive functions. During REDFEB, Heart Research Australia encourages Australians to take control of their health by regularly scheduling these vital check-ups, ensuring they stay heart and brain healthy.
- Mental Wellness: High blood pressure and high cholesterol often go unnoticed in daily life, but they can significantly harm both your heart and brain, impacting cognition and memory. Beyond knowing your numbers and managing these risk factors, incorporate regular mindfulness moments into your day. These short breaks allow you to reset your thinking and can greatly support cognitive and cardiovascular health. This REDFEB, build positive habits that will make a lasting difference for your future well-being.
For REDFEB, Heart Research Australia has launched an on demand webinar “Healthy Heart, Sharp Mind: 4 Simple Steps to Improving Heart & Brain Health” available here.
This February, Honour Loved Ones and Support Heart Research
This REDFEB, Heart Research Australia encourages all Australians to wear red to honour loved ones affected by heart disease, and to raise funds for life-saving research. “Taking care of your heart today can have lasting benefits for both your heart and brain,” says Nicci Dent. "By supporting REDFEB, you’re not only helping to fund vital research, but also empowering yourself and your loved ones to live healthier, longer more active lives."
For more information on REDFEB and to donate, visit www.heartresearch.com.au.
- ENDS –
Distributed by Lanham Media on behalf of Heart Research Australia
Media contacts:
Greg Townley | greg@lanhammedia.com.au | 0414 195 908
Fleur Townley | fleur@lanhammedia.com.au | 0405 278 758
About Heart Research Australia
Heart Research Australia supports world-class and emerging researchers to conduct ground-breaking research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. We support ‘seed’ funding, allowing researchers to turn their innovative, ‘out of the notebook’ ideas into reality. As this type of first-stage research does not qualify for government funding, we are solely reliant on the generosity of our wonderful supporters to help make the investigation of such ideas possible. Our goal is to keep families together for longer and to reduce the devastating impact heart disease has on families and the community.
https://www.heartresearch.com.au/
Available for interview:
- Nicci Dent, CEO of Heart Research Australia
- Dr Miranda Say, Clinical Neuropsychologist
- Chloe Steele, Heart Research Australia Nutritionist
- Dr Edward Barin – Cardiologist
- Julie Anne Mitchell – Heart Research Australia board member and advocate for women’s heart health
- State-based specialists and Kieser exercise physiologists available on request
- Alessandro Pavoni – Heart Research Australia REDFEB ambassador, heart attack survivor and Chef
- Rachel Jayne Cassidy – Author of ‘In A Heartbeat’ launching Feb 21
- We also have a number of excellent case studies available for interview from all over Australia
Media Assets:
REDFEB photos available here
Video/overlay: What is a heart attack? https://www.heartresearch.com.au/heart-attack/
Cardiac video series: https://www.heartresearch.com.au/videos/
We also have a range of personal stories, educational videos for online and social, and a Heart Health Club. There is also a private Facebook group to connect the community of those suffering from, caring for someone with, or at-risk of heart disease. The group gives them a safe space to share thoughts, and ask tips and advice. https://www.facebook.com/groups/hearthealthclub
Statistics:
- Heart disease is the single biggest cause of Australian deaths (1)
- Heart disease kills 51 Australians every day (2)
- Heart disease kills one Australian every 30 minutes (2)
- 1 million Australians are currently affected by heart disease (6)
- Heart disease is more common in males than females (4.9% compared to 3.1%) (6)
- Heart disease prevalence increases with age and affects nearly a quarter of people aged 75 and over vs 2.3% of people aged 45-54 (6)
- 1 in 3 people aged 18 and over have high blood pressure (1)
- Prevalence of high blood pressure increases with age, almost four out of 5 adults have hypertension by 75 years of age (7)
- 35% of the burden of cardiovascular disease was due to high blood pressure (1)
- 157 people are admitted to hospital every day because of a heart attack (3)
- Every 10 minutes an Australian suffers a heart attack (4)
- Indigenous Australians had cardiovascular disease hospitalisation and death rates that were over 50% higher than non-indigenous Australians (5)
- In the Australian population the top three causes of death in women are: Dementia (including Alzheimer’s), heart disease and stroke. In Men heart disease, Dementia and Covid 19 (8).
1. AIHW - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022) Australia’s health 2022: data insights, AIHW, Australian Government,
2. ABS Causes of Death, Australia
3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020. Coronary heart disease. Canberra: AIHW
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020. Australia’s health 2020 data insights. Australia’s health series no. 17. Cat. no. AUS 231. Canberra: AIHW.
5. Cardiovascular disease – heart, stroke, and vascular diseases Last updated 1/12/2020 v16.0 © Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2021
6. ABS Health Conditions Prevalence 2020-21
7. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018, National Health Survey 2017-18,
8. AIHW- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2022. Leading causes of death. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-deaths/deaths-in-australia/contents/summary
Key Facts:
Statistics:
- Heart disease is the single biggest cause of Australian deaths (1)
- Heart disease kills 51 Australians every day (2)
- Heart disease kills one Australian every 30 minutes (2)
- 1 million Australians are currently affected by heart disease (6)
- Heart disease is more common in males than females (4.9% compared to 3.1%) (6)
- Heart disease prevalence increases with age and affects nearly a quarter of people aged 75 and over vs 2.3% of people aged 45-54 (6)
- 1 in 3 people aged 18 and over have high blood pressure (1)
- Prevalence of high blood pressure increases with age, almost four out of 5 adults have hypertension by 75 years of age (7)
- 35% of the burden of cardiovascular disease was due to high blood pressure (1)
- 157 people are admitted to hospital every day because of a heart attack (3)
- Every 10 minutes an Australian suffers a heart attack (4)
- Indigenous Australians had cardiovascular disease hospitalisation and death rates that were over 50% higher than non-indigenous Australians (5)
- In the Australian population the top three causes of death in women are: Dementia (including Alzheimer’s), heart disease and stroke. In Men heart disease, Dementia and Covid 19 (8).
About us:
About Heart Research Australia
Heart Research Australia supports world-class and emerging researchers to conduct ground-breaking research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. We support ‘seed’ funding, allowing researchers to turn their innovative, ‘out of the notebook’ ideas into reality. As this type of first-stage research does not qualify for government funding, we are solely reliant on the generosity of our wonderful supporters to help make the investigation of such ideas possible. Our goal is to keep families together for longer and to reduce the devastating impact heart disease has on families and the community.
https://www.heartresearch.com.au/
Contact details:
Greg Townley | greg@lanhammedia.com.au | 0414 195 908
Fleur Townley | fleur@lanhammedia.com.au | 0405 278 758
