Overview

• Researchers from Mass General Brigham analyzed leukocyte telomere length and Brain Care Scores in 356,173 UK Biobank participants over an average seven-year follow-up.
• Participants with shorter telomeres experienced higher rates of stroke, dementia and late-life depression compared with those whose telomeres remained longer.
• High Brain Care Scores—reflecting factors like blood pressure control, healthy diet and regular exercise—offset the elevated brain disease risk associated with short telomeres.
• About 45% of dementia cases and up to 85% of strokes are attributable to modifiable factors, underscoring the impact of lifestyle on biological aging.
• The study’s limitations—including a single telomere measurement and a predominantly European cohort—highlight the need for research on specific behaviors that preserve telomere length.