Understanding Brain Aging: Key Factors for Maintaining Cognitive Health

The Secrets to Maintaining Cognitive Health as We Age

As we cross the threshold of 40, subtle shifts in our cognitive abilities start to emerge. Reaction times become a tad slower, and recalling everyday items might require a bit more effort. These shifts, while sometimes associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s, are often just a natural part of aging.

Matt Huentelman, a professor at TGen, the Translational Genomics Research Institute, in Phoenix, offers insights into these changes. He plays a pivotal role in the MindCrowd project, a free online cognitive test that has garnered participation from over 700,000 adults.

Remarkably, about a thousand individuals demonstrated “exceptional” brain performance, aligning their cognitive abilities with those 30 years their junior. While genetics plays a part, Huentelman’s team delves deeper into other contributing factors.

“We want to study these exceptional performers because we think they can tell us what the rest of us should be doing,” Huentelman states. Preliminary findings emphasize the importance of sleep and cardiovascular health. Other recommended practices include avoiding smoking, moderating alcohol intake, and staying active.

These revelations were part of discussions at a Miami event hosted by the McKnight Brain Research Foundation, which focuses on age-related cognitive decline. Alice Luo Clayton, a neuroscientist and the group’s CEO, noted the necessity of understanding brain aging at a fundamental level.

Christian Agudelo, a sleep neurologist at the University of Miami’s Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, shared personal insights on sleep’s critical role. “I think the value of sleep and sleep deprivation became true to me when I had kids,” Agudelo recalls, highlighting his research that correlates quality sleep with cognitive health.

Agudelo emphasizes that quality sleep is vital, allowing the brain to progress through all necessary sleep stages. He advises consistent wake times and aligning sleep patterns with daylight to improve sleep quality.

Another significant factor in brain aging is vascular health, as explained by Charles DeCarli, a neurologist at the University of California, Davis. Vascular risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol can directly impact the brain, potentially making it appear older.

DeCarli’s research explores whether managing these conditions can preserve brain health. “The question is, if you have these diseases and they are well controlled, will you have a younger-looking brain?” he asks. “And the answer seems to be yes.”