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Recent research from the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Thompson Institute has revealed that your lifestyle choices may be having a greater impact on your brain than previously thought, potentially accelerating the aging process and increasing dementia risk before any cognitive symptoms appear.
The study, published in Age and Ageing, found a connection between certain lifestyle factors—such as diet, sleep patterns, and physical activity—and early signs of brain aging. Specifically, participants with higher dementia risk showed reduced white matter volume and an imbalance in their brain’s electrical activity, even without noticeable cognitive decline.
Dr. Thomas Pace, lead author of the study, noted that while the research was not longitudinal, indicating that a direct causal link cannot yet be confirmed, the findings suggest that lifestyle factors are already affecting the brain long before any symptoms of dementia emerge.
“We wanted to establish whether modifiable factors that affect people’s dementia risk had any relationship with biological and functional markers of brain aging,” Dr. Pace said. “There is clearly a relationship between lifestyle choices and brain aging, and it exists before symptoms of dementia appear.”
The study used an online dementia risk tool, CogDrisk, developed by Neuroscience Research Australia and the University of New South Wales, which provided participants with a dementia risk score based on their lifestyle choices and demographic information. After adjusting for non-modifiable factors like age and education, the researchers focused on the impact of lifestyle on brain health.
Using advanced brain scanning techniques, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG), the researchers found a clear link between higher dementia risk and two key indicators of brain health: white matter volume and the balance of electrical activity in the brain.
White matter volume is a well-established marker for early brain aging, but the discovery of a new marker related to electrical activity balance is an exciting step forward in understanding the biological signs of brain aging, according to Dr. Pace.
With dementia on track to become the leading cause of death in Australia, as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the researchers stress the importance of addressing these modifiable risk factors to help reduce future dementia rates.
Dr. Sophie Andrews, co-author of the study and leader of the Thompson Institute’s Healthy Brain Aging Program, emphasized the importance of early intervention. “The good news is that these modifiable factors can be adjusted to reduce risk and even reverse some signs of aging in the brain,” she said. “The earlier you make positive lifestyle changes, the better the outcome.”
Practical steps for reducing dementia risk include adopting a Mediterranean-style diet rich in olive oil, leafy greens, and fish; ensuring 7-9 hours of sleep per night; engaging in regular physical activity; and maintaining social connections.
Dr. Andrews added, “Think of it like painting a canvas—your lifestyle choices are the brushstrokes, and while the painting may be in progress, it’s never too late to make positive changes.”
As the research continues, Dr. Pace and his team are hopeful that these findings will encourage individuals to make simple yet impactful changes in their daily routines to preserve brain health for the future.
For more information, you can access the study titled “Modifiable dementia risk associated with smaller white matter volume and altered 1/f aperiodic brain activity: cross-sectional insights from the LEISURE study” in Age and Ageing (2024). DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae243.
