A new international study reveals how societal factors can accelerate brain aging, with implications for racial and ethnic health disparities in the United States. Researchers analyzed brain imaging data from over 5,000 people across 15 countries, including the US, to measure differences between biological and chronological brain age.
The study found that populations from countries with greater inequalities generally exhibited older brain ages. Structural socioeconomic inequality, air pollution, and disease burdens were significant predictors of increased brain age gaps, especially in more disadvantaged countries. These findings suggest environmental and social factors play a key role in brain health disparities. In the US context, this could mean minority communities facing higher pollution levels and socioeconomic challenges may be at greater risk for accelerated brain aging.
The research also uncovered sex differences, with women in Latin American countries showing larger brain age gaps, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease. This was linked to biological sex and gender disparities in health and social conditions.
“Your brain’s age isn’t just about years—it’s about where and how you live,” said lead author Professor Agustin Ibanez of Trinity College Dublin. He emphasized that considering how different exposures can affect brain aging is “an essential consideration for policymakers.”
These results highlight the importance of addressing structural inequalities and environmental issues to promote healthier brain aging across diverse populations. Public health initiatives targeting these factors could potentially help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in cognitive health outcomes.
See “Research reveals environmental and disease factors can speed up the brain’s biological age” (August 26, 2024)
