Have you turned 40 and find yourself complaining about memory lapses? Then take a moment to reflect on the lifestyle you led in your younger years. If, in your 20s, you smoked, drank alcohol, neglected exercise, slept little, consumed unhealthy food, and often felt stressed, then it’s no surprise.
At least, that’s what a team from the University of California, San Francisco, claims in a recent study examining the impact of an unhealthy lifestyle on cognitive abilities in middle age. Of course, during those carefree young years, it’s tempting to indulge in everything, especially habits that harm your health. However, after a few decades, such a free-spirited lifestyle can take a toll on brain function. Researchers found that those who harmed their bodies in youth performed significantly worse cognitively than those who adhered to a healthy lifestyle.
How the Study Was Conducted
It’s expected that cognitive abilities decline with age. But in middle age, it’s a bit early to be facing symptoms of dementia and its most severe form—Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Kristine Yaffe, the lead author of the study and an expert in dementia and cognitive aging, warned: “Inflammation plays a crucial role in cognitive aging, which can manifest as early as young adulthood” (that is, from ages 20 to 40—Ed.). She added that inflammation affects cognitive functions both directly and indirectly.
The researchers analyzed data from over 2,300 American adults aged 18 to 30. Over 18 years of observation, each participant underwent blood tests for C-reactive protein (CRP)—a key marker of inflammation—four times. Five years after the last CRP measurement, participants took cognitive tests. By that time, most were in their 40s and 50s, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The researchers discovered that only 10 percent of individuals with low inflammation levels recorded at age 20 performed poorly on tests measuring information processing speed and memory.
In contrast, among those who exhibited moderate or high levels of inflammation in their youth, the figures were 21 and 19 percent, respectively.
“From long-term studies, we know that changes in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia can develop over decades,” noted co-author Amber Bachorik, an expert in psychiatry and cognitive functions.
“We aimed to determine whether health and lifestyle in early adulthood could influence cognitive skills in middle age and increase the likelihood of developing dementia later in life,” she added. Ultimately, the team found a connection.
The study’s results were published in the journal Neurology.
According to the World Health Organization, over 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia. WHO experts predict that this number will reach 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050. Approximately 60-70 percent of all dementia cases are attributed to Alzheimer’s disease. Experts are alarmed, as the mortality rate from Alzheimer’s continues to rise globally.