8 months ago
Lifestyle Changes Can De-Age Your Brain
A new study from the University of Florida found that everyday habits can make your brain appear younger.
Researchers looked at 128 adults over two years and used MRI scans to compare their brain age with their real age.
They found that people with healthy habits, like good sleep, managing stress, and having supportive relationships, had brains that looked about eight years younger.
Even people with chronic pain benefited from these good habits.
The study suggests that while life challenges can affect your brain, positive daily habits can have a bigger and longer-lasting impact on keeping your brain healthy and young.
A study from the University of Florida found that positive lifestyle factors can make brains appear younger.
Participants with the most health-promoting behaviors had brains that looked about eight years younger.
Protective habits include regular sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, managing stress, and nurturing supportive relationships.
Chronic pain can affect brain health, but positive lifestyle behaviors can offset some of these risks.
The brain age gap is a holistic measure of brain health and resilience.
- Who
- Adults in midlife and older age, particularly those with chronic pain or at risk of knee osteoarthritis
- What
- A study on how lifestyle changes can impact brain age
- Where
- University of Florida
- When
- Over a period of two years
- Why
- To understand the impact of lifestyle factors on brain health and ageing
Key facts
- Study Conducted By
- University of Florida
- Participants
- 128 adults in midlife and older age
- Study Duration
- 2 years
- Key Findings
- Positive lifestyle factors linked to brains appearing 8 years younger
- Protective Habits
- Regular sleep, healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, managing stress, supportive relationships
- Impact of Chronic Pain
- Positive lifestyle behaviors can offset risks associated with chronic pain
- Brain Age Significance
- Holistic measure of brain health and resilience
Quotes
Kimberly Sibille
Associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UF and senior author of the report
“The message is consistent across our studies, health promoting behaviours are not only associated with lower pain and better physical functioning, they appear to actually bolster health in an additive fashion at a meaningful level.”
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“Literally for every additional health promoting factor there is some evidence of neurobiological benefit.”
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Jared Tanner
Research associate professor of clinical and health psychology at the University of Florida and one of the study's leaders
“These are things that people have some level of control over. You can learn how to perceive stress differently. Poor sleep is very treatable. Optimism can be practised.”
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