As people age, it’s common to worry about memory and thinking abilities. Many of these changes, like mild forgetfulness, are part of normal aging and don’t indicate serious memory problems.
Forgetting where you left your keys or a name occasionally isn’t unusual. However, more severe memory loss, which interferes with everyday tasks like driving, using the phone, or navigating home, can be a sign of something more concerning.
A recent study from the University of Washington sheds light on a key factor in maintaining a healthy brain at any age: the blood-brain barrier. This complex network of blood vessels protects the brain by regulating what substances can pass through from the blood into the brain.
The blood-brain barrier plays a vital role in brain health, acting like a highly selective filter. It allows nutrients and important signaling molecules into the brain while keeping out harmful substances and pumping out toxins.
Researchers reviewed over 150 studies to understand how the blood-brain barrier changes as we age. They found that even in healthy aging, tiny leaks in this barrier can occur.
While these small leaks are linked to normal age-related forgetfulness, larger leaks may contribute to more serious memory problems, including conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
The blood-brain barrier becomes less effective with age. It doesn’t remove amyloid beta-peptide—a substance that forms harmful plaques in the brain—as efficiently.
This issue is even worse for people with the ApoE4 gene, the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s. These individuals are less capable of clearing amyloid beta-peptide, leading to plaque buildup that damages brain cells.
The study also highlighted the roles of two types of cells in the blood-brain barrier: pericytes and astrocytes. Pericytes help maintain the barrier’s structure and function, but their numbers decrease with age, leading to leaks.
Astrocytes, on the other hand, can become overactive, further disrupting the barrier. Both changes contribute to aging-related memory decline and are more severe in people with Alzheimer’s.
Interestingly, preserving pericyte function could help maintain a healthy blood-brain barrier. Research suggests that some lifestyle habits known to promote longevity, like regular exercise and calorie restriction, may also protect pericytes.
The drug rapamycin, known for its lifespan-extending properties in animals, could also play a role in supporting pericyte health and improving blood-brain barrier function.
For those concerned about memory and brain health, this research emphasizes the importance of overall health. Regular physical activity, a balanced diet like the Mediterranean diet, and other healthy habits could help protect brain function as we age.
While mild forgetfulness is usually nothing to worry about, taking steps to maintain a healthy blood-brain barrier could reduce the risk of more serious memory issues.
This study, conducted by William Banks and his team, was published in Nature Aging, offering valuable insights into the connection between aging, brain health, and memory.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Omega-3 fats and carotenoid supplements could improve memory.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
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