Studies Show Biological Age Boosts Stroke Risk and Delays Brain Maturity

Researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institute analysed data from about 325,000 participants in the UK Biobank, aged 40‑70, using 18 biomarkers to estimate biological age. They found that when an individual's biological age exceeds their chronological age by roughly five years, the risk of an ischemic stroke rises by up to 40 %. The same analysis also linked accelerated biological ageing to higher rates of dementia.

A separate study by scientists at the University of Cambridge examined more than 4,200 brain MRI scans from people aged from infancy to 90 years. The analysis identified five major stages of brain development, with key transition ages at roughly 9, 32, 66 and 83 years. The researchers concluded that the brain’s “adolescence” – a period of high neural plasticity and adaptability – extends until about age 32, after which stability increases but flexibility declines.

Both studies highlight the importance of biological age as a marker for health risk and cognitive change, suggesting new avenues for stroke prevention and lifelong learning strategies.