Risk of dementia + Co.
These 3 factors cause the brain to age faster
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A new study has shown which three habits and external factors make our brains age faster. We have some of these in our own hands.
A variety of factors determine our risk of neurological diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. Some of these are genetic, while others have a lot to do with our lifestyle and habits. A research team from the University of Oxford investigated what our… really causes the brain to age prematurely.
For the study, published in Nature Communications magazine, the researchers examined brain scans and data from around 40,000 people in Great Britain. The men and women were all over 45 years old. The research team primarily looked at which lifestyle choices increased the risk of brain diseases and other early aging symptoms, as well as the genetic factors that played a role.
British study: This is the fastest way to age our brains
In addition to hereditary predispositions caused by certain genes, the team from the British elite university was able to identify three factors in particular:
1. Alcohol consumption
It used to be thought that moderate alcohol consumption was not harmful and that it might even have health benefits. This has now been refuted with a wide variety of research results. This study also showed that regular consumption of alcoholic beverages damages our brain and increases the risk of developing dementia – every single glass.
2. Air pollution
The second factor is more difficult because we don’t necessarily have control over it ourselves. If we are exposed to high levels of air pollution over a long period of time, especially from road traffic, this also causes our brain to age faster. So anyone who lives in the city and possibly even on a busy street has a greater risk of dementia and the like.
3. Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, the variant that can arise primarily due to lifestyle, including poor diet, too little exercise and smoking, also damages our brain. People suffering from type 2 diabetes even have a 60 percent higher risk of developing dementia.
Even if we cannot influence the genetic factors that age our brain and increase our risk of Alzheimer’s etc., we can certainly use our lifestyle to help prevent it from increasing, at least. Very moderate or, ideally, no alcohol consumption at all, not smoking, a balanced diet, sufficient exercise and, if possible, healthy air without excessive exposure to exhaust fumes can help protect our brain.