A new study published in Neurology suggests that biological aging could be a significant risk factor for developing dementia. Researchers analyzed data from 280,918 individuals and found that those with higher biological age were more likely to develop dementia.
The study used two methods to estimate the biological age of participants, taking into account factors such as metabolism, immune system function, and organ health. The results showed that participants who were biologically “oldest” were 30% more likely to develop dementia than those who were biologically “youngest”.
Additionally, the study found that grey matter volume in the brain, cortical mean thickness, and cortical surface area also played a role in the association between biological age and dementia risk. The findings support the hypothesis that advanced biological age may contribute to the development of dementia by causing widespread changes in brain structures.
The researchers believe that while chronological age cannot be changed, lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can influence biological age. Identifying risk factors like this study highlights the importance of preventive measures to reduce dementia risk.
Source: https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/patient-care/biological-age-provides-window-into-dementia-risk