Heart-Healthy Habits May Slow Brain Aging and Reduce Dementia Risk

Recent research highlights the significant impact of heart-healthy lifestyles on brain aging and the potential to delay cognitive decline. A study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Public Health and the School of Medicine analyzed MRI brain scans from nearly 20,000 individuals aged 40-69 within a UK database. Utilizing advanced artificial intelligence techniques, the researchers estimated the brain's biological age by examining white matter integrity, which is crucial for connecting different brain regions and tends to deteriorate with age.

The study assessed participants' adherence to the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metrics, including diet, physical activity, smoking status, sleep quality, body mass index, lipid profile, hemoglobin levels, and blood pressure. Findings revealed that higher LE8 scores correlated with reduced white matter loss, indicating a slowdown in brain aging. This suggests that engaging in healthier behaviors may help maintain cognitive functions longer and lower the risk of dementia.

Lead researcher Tianzhou "Charles" Ma emphasized the importance of proactive health measures, stating that lifestyle modifications such as increased exercise or quitting smoking might be more effective than medication in preventing early-onset dementia. Further, the study explored genetic factors like the APOE4 allele, known to increase Alzheimer's disease risk. Interestingly, even among APOE4 carriers, those following healthy lifestyles showed less white matter deterioration.

The research also extended to examining the effects of chronic stress, which was found to accelerate brain aging independently of other factors. This underscores the impact of daily stress and anxiety on long-term brain health. Using AI to analyze large neuroimaging datasets allows for detecting subtle biomarkers, offering a promising avenue for personalized prevention strategies.

Overall, these findings advocate for adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors early, not only to safeguard heart health but also to preserve cognitive function and prevent neurodegenerative diseases. Medical professionals might soon tailor prevention plans considering genetic and lifestyle factors, fostering a comprehensive approach to brain health.