Researchers and scientists have discovered some of the main causes of a prematurely ageing brain.
By using scans to estimate people's brain age, they found that those with poor heart health at the age of 36 predicted a higher brain age later in life.
It was also discovered by the UCL researchers that between men and women of the same age, men's brains tended to be slightly older.
A higher brain age was linked to worse scores on mental tests, and it also caused an increase in brain shrinkage over the following two years.
The research could be an important indicator for people at risk of cognitive decline or other brain-related ill health.
Lead author Professor Jonathan Schott, UCL Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, said: "We found that despite people in this study all being of very similar real ages, there was a very wide variation in how old the computer model predicted their brains to be.
"We hope this technique could one day be a useful tool for identifying people at risk of accelerated ageing, so that they may be offered early, targeted prevention strategies to improve their brain health."
To carry out the study, the researchers used an established MRI-based model to estimate the brain age of people on the Alzheimer’s Research UK-funded Insight 46 study, led by Professor Schott.
The people had been a part of the study for their whole lives, so the scientists were able to compare their current brain ages to various factors within their lives.
They were all between 69 and 72 years old, but their estimated brain ages ranged from 46 to 93.
How to improve heart health
The new study found that people with bad heart health at age 36 or 69 had worse brain health.
According to the NHS, there are a number of steps you can take to lower your risk of developing heart problems.
For example, you can:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Be more physically active
- Keep to a healthy weight
- Give up smoking
- Reduce your alcohol consumption
- Keep your blood pressure under control
Dr Sara Imarisio, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: "The Insight 46 study is helping reveal more about the complex relationship between the different factors influencing people’s brain health throughout their life."
"Using machine learning, researchers in this study have uncovered yet more evidence that poorer heart health in midlife is linked to greater brain shrinkage in later life.
"We’re incredibly grateful to the dedicated group of individuals who have contributed to research their entire lives making this work possible."
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