- A new study indicates that metabolic syndrome, a combination of risk factors such as high blood sugar and blood pressure, may significantly accelerate brain ageing.
- Researchers analysed data from 27,375 UK Biobank participants, utilising MRI scans and machine learning to estimate the 'brain-age gap' compared to chronological age.
- The findings revealed that individuals with metabolic syndrome had brains that appeared notably older than expected, with the ageing effect increasing with the number of metabolic syndrome components present.
- The study identified three metabolites – GlycA (a marker of inflammation), the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio (indicating atherosclerosis), and certain fatty acids – as partially explaining the link to accelerated brain ageing.
- All five components of metabolic syndrome are modifiable through lifestyle choices like regular exercise, healthy eating, and quality sleep, suggesting that managing these factors can help protect brain health.
IN FULL
