A new study indicates that the brain may age faster or slower than the body, depending on factors related to how each person experiences and handles stress over time.
The research was carried out by scientists at the University of Florida, US, and indicates that everyday behaviors may be linked to brains that appear to be up to eight years younger than their chronological age. The study followed middle-aged and older adults and reinforces the idea that brain aging is not a completely fixed or uncontrollable process.
According to the authors, aspects such as how to cope with challenges, quality of sleep and the social support network around each person contribute to influencing brain health over time. These effects, according to the team, remain relevant even in people with chronic pain.
Habits that help keep the brain young
- Regular, good quality sleep;
- Healthier ways to manage daily stress;
- Maintain close social ties and emotional support;
- More optimistic attitudes towards daily challenges;
- Avoid smoking;
- Take care of your body weight and metabolic health;
- Greater frequency of positive emotions.
How Researchers Assessed Brain Aging
Published in the journal Brain Communications on September 11, the study followed 128 participants for two years. Most suffered from chronic musculoskeletal pain related to knee osteoarthritis or were at risk of developing this problem.
During the follow-up period, the volunteers underwent MRI scans, which were analyzed using machine learning models. From these images, the scientists estimated the so-called brain age and compared this result with the chronological age of each participant.
The difference between these two values is a general indicator of brain health. The greater the distance between the actual age and the estimated age of the organ, the greater the sign of accelerated aging. When the brain appeared younger than the body, the result was interpreted as an indication of greater neurological protection.
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In early research, factors such as persistent pain, lower income, lower education and social disadvantage were associated with older brains. However, over time, these relationships have lost weight.
What most influenced the rate of brain aging
Over the two years of follow-up, health behaviors showed a more consistent association with younger-looking brains. Participants who had more protective factors began the study with brains that appeared on average eight years younger than their actual age and continued to age more slowly.
For the authors, this discovery reinforces the idea that brain health results from the combination of several factors acting together. Each positive element incorporated into the routine seems to contribute, even gradually, to preserving brain functions.
Researchers point out that with age, the brain becomes more vulnerable to pathologies such as cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, analyzing it as an integrated system, and not just isolated regions, provides a better understanding of how life experiences, stress and health problems affect entire neural networks.
Although the study focused on people with chronic pain, the team believes the findings could be relevant to a broader audience. The main message is that daily choices leave measurable marks on the brain and that these effects tend to accumulate over time.
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