Your brain ages at different rates depending on the social and physical environment of aging and dementia.
Countries with greater inequalities – economic, pollution or disease – showed older brain ages, according to a study published in Nature Science involving the University of Surrey.
The rate at which the brain ages can vary significantly between individuals, leading to a gap between the estimated biological age of the brain and chronological age (the actual number of years a person has lived). This difference can be influenced by several factors, such as environmental factors such as pollution and social factors such as income or health inequality, especially in the elderly and people with dementia. Until now, it was unclear how these combined factors could accelerate or slow brain aging in different geographic populations.
In the study, a team of international researchers developed ways to measure brain aging using advanced brain clocks based on deep learning of brain networks. This study involved a diverse data set of 5,306 participants from 15 countries, including Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries and non-LAC countries. By analyzing data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG), the researchers quantified age differences in the brain in healthy individuals and people with neurodegenerative disorders such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). .
Our research shows that in countries where inequality is greater, people’s brains age faster, especially in the brain areas most affected by aging. We found that factors such as socio-economic inequality, air pollution and the impact of diseases play a major role in this accelerated aging process, especially in poorer countries.”
Dr. Daniel Abasolo, co-author of the study and head of the Center for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Surrey
Participants diagnosed with dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease, showed the most critical brain age differences. The study also revealed gender differences in brain aging, with women in LAC countries showing greater differences in brain age, especially in women with Alzheimer’s disease. These differences were related to biological sex and gender differences in health and social conditions. Variations in signal quality, demographics, or acquisition methods could not explain the results. These findings underscore the role of environmental and social factors in disparities in brain health.
The findings of this study have profound implications for neuroscience and brain health, particularly for understanding the interactions between macrofactors (exposome) and the mechanisms underlying brain aging in diverse populations in healthy aging and dementia. The study’s approach, which integrates multiple dimensions of diversity into brain health research, provides a new framework for personalized medicine. This framework could be critical for identifying individuals at risk for neurodegenerative diseases and developing targeted interventions to reduce these risks. Furthermore, the study results highlight the importance of considering the biological embedding of environmental and social factors in public health policy. Policymakers can reduce age gaps in the brain and promote healthier aging of the population by addressing issues such as socio-economic inequality and environmental pollution.
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Magazine reference:
Moguilner, S., et al. (2024). Brain clocks capture diversity and inequality in aging and dementia within geographically diverse populations. Naturopathy. doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03209-x.