BMI, blood pressure and physical activity levels in childhood linked to brain differences
Poorer cardiovascular health in childhood and adolescence may be linked to early differences in brain structure, particularly in areas of the brain known to be affected in dementia in later life, according to a new scientific study
Co-author of the paper, Associate Professor Sana Suri from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, added: The findings suggest that we should be thinking about targeting modifiable lifestyle risk factors, such as obesity and exercise, decades before current lifespan models of dementia suggest.
The early adolescent years merit greater consideration in the context of dementia prevention.
” Data for the study was obtained from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a world-leading birth cohort study based at the University of Bristol. David Thomas, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
‘This study suggests that not looking after our hearts even in adolescence could lead to changes in the brain later on in life, which may influence the risk of developing dementia.
‘Up to 45% of dementia cases can be prevented by avoiding risk factors that we can influence, such as physical inactivity and smoking.
These are habits that some people pick up in early life, without knowing the potential long-term consequences for their brain health.
‘Dementia is not just an inevitable part of aging. By supporting research like this study, we are gaining insights into how people might be able to prevent dementia happening in the first place, which is vital if we want to reach a cure for this devastating condition.’
