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A groundbreaking study has revealed a surprising connection between cardiovascular health in childhood and adolescence and the structure of the brain in young adulthood, particularly in areas linked to dementia later in life. The research, conducted by scientists from the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry in collaboration with University College London, suggests that poor cardiovascular health during these early years could set the stage for changes in brain structure that may increase the risk of dementia.
While factors like obesity, hypertension, and physical inactivity are known to contribute to dementia risk in middle age, little has been understood about how these same factors might influence brain health much earlier in life. The new study, published in eBioMedicine, sheds light on this gap in knowledge by examining data from over 860 children and young people, aged 7 to 17.
The research team analyzed brain scans alongside physical activity levels, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) to understand the links between cardiovascular risk factors and brain structure. The results showed that higher BMI, elevated blood pressure, and lower physical activity in adolescence were associated with structural differences in the brain by young adulthood. These changes were particularly prominent in areas of the brain known to be affected by dementia, such as those involved in memory and cognitive functions.
Holly Haines, the study’s lead author, highlighted the significance of the findings: “Our research shows that cardiovascular health in the earliest stages of life may already be important for the structure of brain regions known to be affected in dementia in old age—much earlier than previously thought.”
The study found that markers of poorer cardiovascular health, including higher childhood blood pressure and rapid BMI growth throughout adolescence, were linked to changes in gray matter, a brain tissue associated with thinking and memory. These changes mirrored those observed in older individuals with dementia, suggesting that lifestyle choices made in youth can have long-lasting effects on brain health.
This new insight opens the door for earlier interventions to prevent dementia, but the researchers emphasize that more studies with a more diverse group of participants are necessary to fully understand the broader implications. “The early adolescent years merit greater consideration in the context of dementia prevention,” said Associate Professor Sana Suri, a co-author of the paper.
The study used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a prominent birth cohort study based at the University of Bristol, to analyze these associations.
David Thomas, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, commented on the potential long-term impact of the study: “This study suggests that not looking after our hearts even in adolescence could lead to changes in the brain later on in life, which may influence the risk of developing dementia. By supporting research like this, we are gaining valuable insights into how we might prevent dementia before it even begins.”
The researchers hope their findings will encourage earlier interventions to address cardiovascular risk factors like obesity and physical inactivity—key factors that could be modified much earlier in life to help prevent the onset of dementia.
For more details, refer to the study published in eBioMedicine: Haines, H. T., et al. (2024). Association of early life cardiovascular risk factors with grey matter structure in young adults in the United Kingdom: The ALSPAC study. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105490.
