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5mo ago

Study Confirms Biological Age as Key Predictor of Dementia Risk

New research links advanced biological aging to a 30% higher dementia risk, mediated by brain structure changes, while highlighting lifestyle interventions to mitigate risks.

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The researchers also found that people with advanced biological age also had changes in their brain that are associated with dementia, such as loss of gray matter volume. Credit: Neuroscience News
neuroscience longevity aging neurology Alzheimer's Biological Age Dementia

Overview

  • A Neurology study tracked 280,918 UK Biobank participants over 14 years, finding that advanced biological age raises dementia risk by 30%.
  • Biological age, assessed via KDM-BA and PhenoAge algorithms using clinical and blood biomarkers, outperformed chronological age in predicting dementia risk.
  • Changes in brain structure, including reduced grey matter volume and cortical thickness, partially explained the link between biological age and dementia.
  • Participants with the APOE ε4 genotype and high biological age faced the greatest dementia risk, while polygenic risk scores showed no significant effect.
  • Researchers emphasize that lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and stress reduction can influence biological age, offering a pathway to lower dementia risk.