Scientists have discovered that how well a person’s cells generate energy—what they call “bioenergetic age”—could be a strong predictor of their risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
A study from Weill Cornell Medicine, published in Nature Communications, suggests that a healthy lifestyle can slow down this bioenergetic aging process, potentially reducing Alzheimer’s risk as effectively as the new drug lecanemab.
Dr. Jan Krumsiek, the study’s senior author, explained that this finding is significant because it shows that some people can lower their risk of Alzheimer’s without relying on medications, which can have side effects. This could provide a new, natural approach to preventing cognitive decline.
Why Energy Production Matters for Brain Health
One of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease is a decline in the brain’s ability to efficiently use energy, particularly in how it processes glucose (sugar). However, not everyone who shows these energy-processing problems immediately develops Alzheimer’s symptoms.
This led researchers to believe that some people have a “bioenergetic capacity”—a natural ability to maintain brain energy levels despite underlying issues. These individuals seem to resist the usual cognitive decline associated with aging and Alzheimer’s for longer than others.
The study aimed to identify people with this protective bioenergetic capacity and explore ways to help those without it.
A New Way to Predict Alzheimer’s Risk
To investigate this, the researchers focused on acylcarnitines, a type of molecule linked to energy metabolism. Acylcarnitine levels in the blood reflect how well the body is breaking down fats and proteins for energy.
Using data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, they found that higher acylcarnitine levels were associated with worse Alzheimer’s symptoms, cognitive decline, and brain shrinkage. This led to the creation of a “bioenergetic clock”—a measure of how fast a person’s metabolism is aging compared to their actual age.
Their findings showed that people with lower acylcarnitine levels experienced slower cognitive decline, scoring about 0.5 points better per year on a common Alzheimer’s test than those with high levels. This protective effect was similar to the benefits seen in patients taking lecanemab, a recently approved Alzheimer’s drug.
How Lifestyle Choices Can Slow the Bioenergetic Clock
Genetics does play a role in how fast someone’s bioenergetic clock ticks, but the study found that lifestyle factors—such as a plant-based diet and regular exercise—can help keep acylcarnitine levels low, which may slow aging at the cellular level.
The researchers also identified a group of people, about 30% of the study participants, who had an older bioenergetic age but a favorable genetic background. This suggests they might benefit the most from early lifestyle changes to delay Alzheimer’s onset.
Next Steps: Finding the Best Lifestyle Strategies
Dr. Krumsiek and his team now plan to investigate which lifestyle changes are the most effective at reducing bioenergetic age. For example, they want to determine how much a person would need to reduce carbohydrates in their diet to see meaningful benefits.
Additionally, they highlighted the potential of using simple blood tests to measure acylcarnitine levels. These tests were originally developed for detecting metabolic disorders in newborns but could now be repurposed to assess Alzheimer’s risk in older adults.
What This Means
This research offers hope that early intervention—through diet and exercise—could delay or even prevent Alzheimer’s in some people. It also suggests that a simple blood test could one day help identify who is at higher risk and guide personalized prevention strategies.
While more studies are needed, these findings reinforce the idea that maintaining healthy energy metabolism is crucial for brain health. Small, consistent lifestyle changes might not just help people live longer but also keep their minds sharper as they age.
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For more health information, please see recent studies about foods that reduce Alzheimer’s risk, and oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
The research findings can be found in Nature Communications.
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