Middle-age health choices may influence long-term brain function

A study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging suggests that health choices made during a person's 50s can significantly impact cognitive function in later years. Researchers from UT Health San Antonio, the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley found that maintaining physical activity and managing blood sugar levels during middle age may be linked to a slower decline in memory and thinking skills.

The research, which involved 402 participants in San Antonio with an average age of 58, highlighted the critical connection between cardiovascular health and brain function. Because the same blood vessels deliver oxygen and nutrients to both the body and the brain, damage caused by high blood pressure, smoking, or elevated blood sugar can lead to long-term cognitive impairment.

The study also noted that heart-health factors associated with brain aging may vary between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white individuals. While there is no guaranteed prevention for Alzheimer’s disease, researchers suggest that many dementia cases may be linked to modifiable factors such as cardiovascular disease and physical inactivity.