Embracing Healthy Lifestyle Habits May Decrease Risks of Stroke, Dementia, and Depression in Older Adults
Aging can crank up the odds of various health issues, including stroke, dementia, and late-life depression. And guess what? A recent study has uncovered an aging biomarker that's more common in people who develop these conditions as they get older. Yet, the researchers found that adhering to a healthy lifestyle can to some extent counteract the risks associated with this aging biomarker.
Imagine your body's DNA having shoelace tips to keep it from fraying – well, telomeres work similarly for your DNA. As cells divide, these protective tips get shorter, and their ability to shield DNA weakens, leading to cellular aging and an increased susceptibility to age-related diseases. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in white blood cells can serve as a marker of biological aging, influenced by genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and environmental stressors.
"The length of telomeres in white blood cells can serve as a marker of biological aging and is influenced by genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and environmental stressors," said Tamara N. Kimball, the lead author of the study and a post-doctoral research fellow in the Brain Care Labs at Mass General Brigham.
At the study's conclusion, researchers found that study participants with the shortest telomere length had about 1.5 times more cases of the brain diseases dementia, stroke, and late-life depression compared to those with the longest telomeres. Interestingly, 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.
But here's the good news: Kimball and her team discovered that participants with short telomeres who had high Brain Care Scores – reflecting healthier lifestyle factors – did not have a higher risk of brain diseases. This suggests that following a healthy lifestyle can help offset the negative effects associated with shorter telomeres.
In simpler terms, a healthy lifestyle can help mitigate the risks of stroke, dementia, and late-life depression linked to shorter telomeres, which reflect unhealthy lifestyle choices and determinants of health earlier in life. This study underlines that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can have real brain health consequences, even in people biologically prone tohave short telomeres.
- Aging can increase the likelihood of various medical conditions, such as stroke, dementia, and late-life depression.
- Researchers have identified telomeres as a biomarker for biological aging, found in white blood cells.
- Telomere length in white blood cells is influenced by genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and environmental stressors.
- A study found that participants with shorter telomere length had a higher incidence of dementia, stroke, and late-life depression compared to those with longer telomeres.
- Participants with short telomeres and brain disease risk factors, like hypertension and smoking, were 11% more likely to develop these conditions.
- However, participants with short telomeres but healthier lifestyles (high Brain Care Scores) did not have a higher risk of developing brain diseases.
- Adhering to a healthy lifestyle can help counteract the risks associated with shorter telomeres, offering some protection against age-related diseases like stroke, dementia, and depression.
- A healthy lifestyle, which might include general health, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, nutrition, and healthy-diets focus, can mitigate the risks of the aforementioned chronic diseases.
- This research underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, even for those biologically prone to having shorter telomeres.
- In addition to telomeres, older adults should be mindful of skin-care, neurological-disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular-health, as aging can increase the prevalence of these issues as well.
- Workplace-wellness initiatives promoting health-and-wellness can play an essential role in addressing these risks, providing therapies-and-treatments and educating seniors about proper lifestyle choices for optimal aging and longevity.
