A new study suggests that certain lifestyle choices affect the rate of aging in our brains, and that parts of our bodies can age at different speeds.
Led by researchers from the Karolinska Institute and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, an international team looked at various biological signals to estimate brain age in people who are 70 years old and do not suffer from cognitive impairment.
The importance of vascular health
What emerged from the analysis of the study of 739 people is the importance of vascular health when it comes to maintaining the appearance of a young brain, and habits such as regular physical activity, adherence to a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and managing glucose levels can improve vascular health.
The importance of physical activity
“The conclusion of the study is that factors that negatively affect blood vessels can also be associated with brains that look older, which shows how important it is to maintain vascular health to protect your brain,”says neuroscientist Anna Marceglia from the Karolinska Institute.
According to the study, older brains are associated with physical inactivity, having diabetes, having a stroke, as well as higher levels of inflammation and higher blood glucose levels, indicating a combination of interrelated factors that have an impact.
There were some differences between men and women-glucose levels made a bigger difference to brain age in men, for example – something the researchers are keen to pursue in the future.
Using artificial intelligence
The team used an artificial intelligence deep learning model to assess brain age from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, having previously trained on more than 18 thousand scans of people without any cognitive problems, and then the information from blood samples was compared with the estimated brain ages, along with data collected by researchers on various lifestyle factors, medical conditions, and cognitive tests.
“The algorithm is accurate, powerful, and easy to use,”says clinical gerontologist Eric Westman of the Karolinska Institute. “It is a research tool that still needs to be further evaluated, but our goal is to have clinical use in the future as well, as in dementia-related investigations,”he continues.
This association with dementia is important; older brains tend to be more susceptible to dementia conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and the results suggest ways to protect against this cognitive decline.
Factors associated with brain age
Previous research has linked brain age to many factors, including blood sugar levels, the study found. Ultimately, scientists are looking for ways we can prevent the development of dementia in the first place.
“Despite the recent introduction of new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, they will not work for everyone who suffers from dementia; therefore, we want to study what can enhance the resilience of the brain against pathological aging processes,”says Anna Marceglia.
Since women and men have different factors related to brain aging, the team now plans to investigate how resilience is developed, by taking a closer look at biological determinants (such as hormones) and sociocultural factors.
“Next year, we will launch a study to understand how social health-including social engagement, bonding, and support – in middle and older age, along with sleep and stress, affects brain plasticity, focusing on women’s health factors,”says Anna Marceglia.
