Cardiovascular Health Predicts Brain Health

Researchers were interested in learning more about brain aging. 

The 1946 British Birth Cohort is comprised of 5,362 individuals born in mainland Britain in one week in March of 1946.  The participants have experienced 24 waves of data collection over the course of their lives.  The current study examined brain health and brain aging.

Data included cognitive tests; multi-year brain MRIs; Framingham Heart Study Cardiovascular Risk Scores; DNA testing; and a clinical health assessment. 

Researchers discovered that poor cardiovascular health at ages 36 and 69 predicted higher brain age later in life; men tended to have older brains than women; and higher brain age was associated with brain shrinkage over the following 2 years and lower cognitive test scores. 

Takeaway:  Cardiovascular health may predict neurodegeneration.  Regular exercise is one way to protect both cardiovascular and brain health.

Well-being is a journey, not a quick fix

Source

Aaron Z. Wagen, et al., Life Course, Genetic, and Neuropathological Associations with Brain Age in the 1946 British Birth Cohort: A Population-Based Study, The Lancet Healthy Longevity, Aug. 22, 2022, Life course, genetic, and neuropathological associations with brain age in the 1946 British Birth Cohort: a population-based study - The Lancet Healthy Longevity.