In a significant leap forward in our understanding of dementia and its precursors, a new study published in Nature Communications brings into focus the genetic and lifestyle factors that influence the most vulnerable regions of the brain.
Drawing on the extensive brain scans of over 40,000 participants from the UK Biobank, all over the age of 45, researchers have delved into the intricacies of what makes certain brain networks particularly susceptible to age-related diseases.
Previously, this team of scientists pinpointed a ‘weak spot’ within the brain—a network of higher-order regions that mature last in adolescence but are the first to show signs of degeneration as we age.
This network’s fragility is not only evident in the natural aging process but also in its susceptibility to conditions such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The latest study advances our knowledge by assessing 161 modifiable risk factors for dementia, identifying how they specifically affect this fragile brain network beyond the inevitable wear and tear brought by aging.
These risk factors, which span across categories like blood pressure, cholesterol, lifestyle habits (including alcohol consumption and smoking), mental health (such as depressive mood), environmental influences (like pollution), and social and physical activities, offer a blueprint for interventions that could potentially mitigate the risk of dementia.
Professor Gwenaëlle Douaud, the study’s lead, highlights the pronounced impact of diabetes, traffic-related air pollution, and alcohol consumption on the vulnerable brain network, underlining them as significant contributors to dementia risk.
Furthermore, the study brings to light the role of genetic variations, particularly those associated with cardiovascular health and neurological disorders, including a novel connection with the XG antigen system—a blood group system that had not previously been linked to brain health.
The involvement of genes related to the XG antigen system, found in both X and Y sex chromosomes, suggests uncharted genetic territories with potential relevance to brain health, as emphasized by Professor Lloyd Elliott.
This revelation underscores the complexity of genetic factors in brain degeneration and the necessity of further exploration into these lesser-understood regions of the genome.
By considering all 161 risk factors collectively, the research distinguishes diabetes, air pollution, and alcohol as the top modifiable contributors to the degeneration of the brain’s ‘weak spot’, after accounting for age and sex.
This comprehensive approach, as described by Professor Anderson Winkler, underscores the importance of a holistic view in understanding and addressing the multifaceted nature of dementia risk.
This groundbreaking study not only sheds light on the critical risk factors for dementia but also opens new avenues for prevention strategies and targeted interventions.
By pinpointing specific lifestyle and environmental factors that exacerbate the vulnerability of certain brain regions, it offers hope for mitigating the impacts of these risks through informed lifestyle changes and policy measures, potentially paving the way for a future with lower dementia rates.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies that bad lifestyle habits can cause Alzheimer’s disease, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, please see recent studies about Foods that reduce Alzheimer’s risk and results showing that Scientists link dietary antioxidants to Alzheimer’s prevention.
The research findings can be found in Nature Communications.
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