Aging: Healthy habits could offset stroke, dementia, depression risk
A new study has identified an aging biomarker that is more common in people who develop stroke, dementia, and depression as they age.
Researchers found that study participants who followed a healthy lifestyle appeared to offset the risks associated with this aging biomarker.
'Stroke and dementia are among the most prevalent age-related diseases, affecting millions worldwide and representing major health challenges for individuals, families, and healthcare systems,' Tamara N. Kimball, MD, a post-doctoral research fellow in the Brain Care Labs at Mass General Brigham told Medical News Today .
'With their impact expected to grow dramatically as populations age — and the number of people ages 60 and over projected to increase from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion by 2030 — developing effective prevention strategies has become urgent,' she said.
Kimball is the lead author of a new study recently published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, that has identified an aging biomarker that is more common in people who develop stroke, dementia, and depression as they age.
However, researchers found that following a healthy lifestyle offsets the risk of the diseases associated with this aging biomarker.
For this study, researchers analyzed medical records for more than 356,000 adults with a median age of 56 living in the U.K.
'Imagine your shoelaces have plastic tips that protect them from fraying — telomeres work similarly for your DNA,' Kimball explained. 'Every time your cells divide, which happens constantly as your body repairs and maintains itself, these protective tips get a little shorter. As they become shorter over time, their ability to protect DNA diminishes, leading to cellular aging and an increased susceptibility risk of age-related diseases.'
'The length of telomeres in white blood cells (leukocytes) can serve as a marker of biological aging and is influenced by genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and environmental stressors,' she added.
At the study's conclusion, researchers found that study participants with the shortest telomere length had 5.82 cases per 1,000 person-years (number of people in the study and amount of time each person spent in the study) of the brain diseases dementia, stroke, and late-life depression, compared to 3.92 cases for participants with the longest telomeres.
'This shows people with the shortest telomeres presented (with) these brain diseases about 1.5 times more than those with the longest telomeres, demonstrating how biological aging affects brain health,' Kimball said.
Scientists also discovered that study participants with short telomeres who had brain disease risk factors such as high blood pressure and smoking were 11% more likely to develop stroke, dementia, or depression than those with long telomeres.
'Our results demonstrate that individuals with low Brain Care Score — reflecting less favorable lifestyle factors like high blood pressure and smoking — consistently showed elevated risk for stroke, dementia, and depression when they also had shorter telomeres,' Kimball said. '
This suggests a compounded risk effect where biological aging and poor lifestyle choices increase disease susceptibility,' she said.
Interestingly, Kimball and her team also found that participants with short telomeres, but who had high Brain Care Scores, did not have a higher risk of developing the studied brain diseases.
'In individuals with high Brain Care Score, the impact of leukocyte telomere length on disease risk was not significant,' Kimball explained. 'This may suggest that adopting healthier lifestyles and improving modifiable risk factors can mitigate the negative effects of having shorter telomeres.'
'Research shows that approximately 45% of dementia cases and up to 85% of strokes are linked to factors we can modify — like blood pressure, diet, and exercise,' she continued. 'Understanding the biological mechanisms by which lifestyle interventions influence cellular aging processes is essential for validating prevention strategies and developing more targeted, evidence-based interventions for brain health.'
'Our findings suggest that adopting healthier lifestyles and improving modifiable risk factors might mitigate some of the negative effects of shorter telomeres, which reflect adverse lifestyle choices in addition to social and environmental determinants of health earlier in life. In short, it is never too late to start taking better care of your brain.'
— Tamara N. Kimball, MD
MNT had the opportunity to speak with Clifford Segil, DO, an adult neurologist in private practice in Santa Monica, CA, who is also on staff at Providence St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, about this study.
'I am excited to see this research indicating a common cause of these three pathologies to develop into a possible treatment for telomere length protection or extension which could possibly decrease the occurrence of stroke, dementia, and depression in my elderly patients.'
— Clifford Segil, DO
Segil said that any time a common pathology is found between disparate neurological disease states, it is exciting as this research may stimulate a novel therapy.
'I often share with my patients that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment and studies like this support my desire to help my patients with common sense practical brain health preventative strategies,' he stated.
For the next steps in this research, Segil said he would like to see this research group focus on specific lifestyle traits which cause patients to be able to maintain their 'large' telomere length and therefore decrease risk of stroke, dementia, and depression to figure out what to advise my patients to do for good brain health.
'I would then want them to do the reverse and figure out which habits or lifestyle choices specifically result in 'short' telomere lengths so I could advise my patients what to avoid in life,' he added.
MNT also spoke with Jasdeep S. Hundal, PsyD, ABPP-CN, director of The Center for Memory & Healthy Aging at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine in New Jersey, about this research who commented that findings are not entirely surprising, but do add value.
'Short leukocyte telomere length has long been viewed as a general marker of biological aging and this study seems to support this association, especially for people with unhealthy lifestyles.'
— Jasdeep S. Hundal, PsyD, ABPP-CN
'This reinforces what we see clinically in that modifiable risk factors remain central, even in the context of genetic or biological vulnerability, to brain health as we age even if the findings are correlational. It is interesting to speculate that short telomeres aren't necessarily causing these brain diseases, but they are a warning sign, especially in the setting of poor lifestyle choices,' Hundal explained.
'The burden of age-related brain diseases is rapidly rising, and we still have no cure for the most serious dementias like Alzheimer's disease,' he continued. 'Most of the risk factors for these diseases are modifiable, so there is real potential for prevention or risk reduction, even in people who may already be showing signs of biological aging.'
Hundal said that studies like this highlight that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not just 'good advice,' but can have genuine brain health consequences if someone is biologically vulnerable.
'We need more research identifying which interventions actually make a difference, for whom, and how to implement them in real-world settings,' he added. 'The focus should always be on translating findings like these into concrete strategies that help patients maintain brain health and independence for as long as possible.'
Cholesterol
Hypertension
Stroke
Alzheimer's / Dementia
Seniors / Aging
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
an hour ago
- Times
As the Beatles said, maybe all you do need is love
Perhaps more so than any other band the Beatles devoted much of their wordsmithery to questions of close affection. 'All you need is love,' was one Lennon-McCartney recommendation. 'Love me do' was their first such plea on vinyl, and the Fab Four's epitaph was famously 'the love you take is equal to the love you make'. For some, the lyrics summed up the band's message of peace and harmony; for others, they were hippy dippy smush. Now it turns out that Liverpool's finest may have had a point. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have been tracking 52 individuals for a month, quizzing them six times every day via their smartphones on whether they had expressed amore, or had received some in return. In this context, the researchers interpreted 'love' broadly: spending time with someone close, gift giving, or expressing affection through words. The conclusion was one Messrs Lennon and McCartney would welcome: when people expressed love to others, they tended to feel more loved in return. However, the study found the reverse was not necessarily true: receiving affection from others did not automatically make people more generous with their love. The researchers admit they expected a two-way relationship: 'It was somewhat surprising to find that increases in feelings of being loved didn't increase expressions of love over time.' Their conclusion is that some individuals are better at receiving affection than giving it. • Why small acts of affection may be the key to feeling more loved yourself The power of love goes deeper than self-fulfilment. Participants in the study reported other psychological benefits. Those who felt more loved scored better on average when it came to mental health and feelings of loneliness. Such studies should always be treated with caution, given their observational nature. But at its heart is a timeless truth: saying 'I love you' costs nothing but can mean everything.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Doctor reveals the common medication he 'hates'... and warns it could cause organ failure
A top doctor has warned that a common medication could cause lasting damage like organ failure and dementia. Dr Ethan Melillo, a pharmacist from Rhode Island, says one of the medications he 'hates' is Tylenol PM, one of America's top-selling nighttime painkillers that grosses nearly $1billion a year. But Dr Melillo warns the 17 cent pills designed to provide relief from headaches and minor aches and pains is 'misused' by many patients. He cautioned that if it is used on a regular basis, it can cause liver damage as it contains acetaminophen. Meanwhile, diphenhydramine, which induces sleepiness, can cause memory loss. When acetaminophen is broken down in the liver, a small amount of a toxic byproduct called NAPQI is produced. Normally, the body's natural antioxidant - glutathione - neutralizes NAPQI. However, when high doses of acetaminophen are taken, or if glutathione levels are low from factors like alcohol use or malnutrition, the liver's capacity to process and eliminate NAPQI becomes overwhelmed. When NAPQI is not properly detoxified, it can accumulate in the liver and bind to essential cellular proteins, leading to cell injury and potentially liver failure. Dr Melillo says the risk of liver damage increases significantly when the dose of acetaminophen exceeds 4,000mg daily in adults. This equates to more than eight Tylenol PM pills. He highlights that acetaminophen is an ingredient in many medicines, not just Tylenol PM, so he recommends checking to see which products contain it and the quantities. He doesn't recommend against acetaminophen completely but says it should be used sparingly and not habitually. He says the prevalence of it is one of the reasons why there is so much liver damage in the US. Liver disease in some form affects one in three Americans, adding up to 100million. In January 2011, the FDA asked manufacturers of combination drugs containing acetaminophen to limit acetaminophen doses to no more than 325 mg in each tablet or capsule. This is because there's no data showing that taking more than 325 mg per dosage unit provides additional benefit while outweighing the increased risk of liver injury. Despite the recommendations, each Tylenol PM tablet contains 500 mg of acetaminophen to relieve pain and 25 mg diphenhydramine to help you go to sleep. Previous research also found that acetaminophen could alter the perception of risk by making certain activities seem less dangerous. Participants in the study ingested two acetaminophen tablets (1,000 mg) of the drug or a placebo and were asked to rate certain activities based on risk. Those under the influence of the of the drug rated activities like bungee jumping, skydiving or starting a new career in your mid-30s as less risky than those who took the placebo. The 2020 study, conducted by The Ohio State University, built on previous work that determined acetaminophen impacts the user's psychosis, as it was found to reduce positive and negative emotions, such as hurt feelings, concern of other's suffering and even their own joy. Dr Melillo also dislikes Tylenol PM for its other main ingredient, diphenhydramine. This is an antihistamine, which means it blocks histamine, a chemical in the body that promotes wakefulness, leading to drowsiness and helping with sleep. Dr Melillo says that most people will be more familiar with the medication by its brand name, Benadryl. Explaining why he isn't a fan of diphenhydramine, he said it could 'possibly cause memory loss.' Diphenhydramine is an anticholinergic medication, meaning it blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is essential for memory and cognitive function. By blocking its action, diphenhydramine can impair these functions, leading to memory loss. One study found that taking an anticholinergic for the equivalent of three years or more on a daily basis was associated with a 54 percent higher dementia risk than taking the same dose for three months or less. The other side effects of diphenhydramine, Dr Melillo says, include dry mouth and urinary retention (an inability to empty the bladder). He says for older patients, these symptoms can prove particularly troublesome as they could trigger other age-related health conditions. If people need help sleeping, the pharmacist advises talking to a doctor about prescription medications that are available instead of turning to Tylenol PM or Benadryl, which they could become dependent upon. He adds: 'If you're someone who takes this on a blue moon, then that's fine, it's not a big deal.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
US to breed billions of flies and dump them out of aircraft in bid to fight flesh-eating maggot
The US government is preparing to breed billions of flies and dump them out of airplanes over Mexico and southern Texas to fight a flesh-eating maggot. That sounds like the plot of a horror movie, but it is part of the government's plans for protecting the US from a bug that could devastate its beef industry, decimate wildlife and even kill household pets. This weird science has worked well before. 'It's an exceptionally good technology,' said Edwin Burgess, an assistant professor at the University of Florida who studies parasites in animals, particularly livestock. 'It's an all-time great in terms of translating science to solve some kind of large problem.' The targeted pest is the flesh-eating larva of the new world screwworm fly. The US Department of Agriculture plans to ramp up the breeding and distribution of adult male flies – sterilizing them with radiation before releasing them. They mate with females in the wild, and the eggs laid by the female aren't fertilized and don't hatch. There are fewer larvae, and, over time, the fly population dies out. It is more effective and environmentally friendly than spraying the pest into oblivion, and it is how the US and other countries north of Panama eradicated the same pest decades ago. Sterile flies from a factory in Panama kept the flies contained there for years, but the pest appeared in southern Mexico late last year. The USDA expects a new screwworm fly factory to be up and running in southern Mexico by July 2026. It plans to open a fly distribution center in southern Texas by the end of the year so that it can import and distribute flies from Panama if necessary. Most fly larvae feed on dead flesh, making the new world screwworm fly and its old world counterpart in Asia and Africa outliers – and for the American beef industry, a serious threat. Females lay their eggs in wounds and, sometimes, exposed mucus. 'A thousand-pound bovine can be dead from this in two weeks,' said Michael Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medicine Association. Veterinarians have effective treatments for animals suffering from an infestation, but it can still be unpleasant – and also cripple an animal with pain. Don Hineman, a retired western Kansas rancher, recalled infested cattle as a youngster on his family's farm. 'It smelled nasty,' he said. 'Like rotting meat.' The new world screwworm fly is a tropical species, unable to survive midwestern or great plains winters, so it was a seasonal scourge. Still, the US and Mexico bred and released more than 94 billion sterile flies from 1962 through 1975 to eradicate the pest, according to the USDA. The numbers need to be large enough that females in the wild can't help but hook up with sterile males for mating. One biological trait gives fly fighters a crucial wing up: females mate only once in their weeks-long adult lives. Alarmed about the fly's migration north, the US temporarily closed its southern border in May to imports of live cattle, horses and bison and it won't be fully open again at least until mid-September. But female flies can lay their eggs in wounds on any warm-blooded animal, and that includes humans. Decades ago, the US had fly factories in Florida and Texas, but they closed as the pest was eradicated. The Panama fly factory can breed up to 117 million flies a week, but the USDA wants the capacity to breed at least 400 million a week. It plans to spend $8.5m on the Texas site and $21m to convert a facility in southern Mexico for breeding sterile fruit flies into one for screwworm flies. In one sense, raising a large colony of flies is relatively easy, said Cassandra Olds, an assistant professor of entomology at Kansas State University. But, she added, 'You've got to give the female the cues that she needs to lay her eggs, and then the larvae have to have enough nutrients.' Fly factories once fed larvae horse meat and honey and then moved to a mix of dried eggs and either honey or molasses, according to past USDA research. Later, the Panama factory used a mix that included egg powder and red blood cells and plasma from cattle. In the wild, larvae ready for the equivalent of a butterfly's cocoon stage drop off their hosts and on to the ground, burrow just below the surface and grow to adulthood inside a protective casing resembling a dark brown Tic Tac candy. In the Panama factory, workers drop them into trays of sawdust. Security is an issue. Sonja Swiger, an entomologist with Texas A&M University's extension service, said a breeding facility must prevent any fertile adults kept for breeding stock from escaping. Dropping flies from the air can be dangerous. Last month, a plane freeing sterile flies crashed near Mexico's border with Guatemala, killing three people. In test runs in the 1950s, according to the USDA, scientists put the flies in paper cups and then dropped the cups out of planes using special chutes. Later, they loaded them into boxes with a machine known as a 'whiz packer'. The method is still much the same: light planes drop crates containing flies. Burgess called the development of sterile fly breeding and distribution in the 1950s and 1960s one of the USDA's 'crowning achievements'. Some agriculture officials argue now that new factories shouldn't be shuttered after another successful fight. 'Something we think we have complete control over – and we have declared a triumph and victory over – can always rear its ugly head again,' Burgess said.
