A new University of Florida study discovered that adopting healthy habits such as optimism and good sleep can slow brain aging, with potential implications for combating cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study by University of Florida researchers highlights that optimism, quality sleep and social support are strongly linked to healthier brains and can significantly slow the brain’s aging process.
The study followed 128 middle-aged and older adults, most of whom had chronic musculoskeletal pain or were at risk for knee osteoarthritis, over two years.
Utilizing MRI scans analyzed by a machine learning system, the research team estimated each participant’s “brain age” and compared it to their chronological age. This “brain age gap” served as a measure of whole-brain health.
A key finding was that stressful factors such as chronic pain, low income and less education were associated with older-looking brains.
However, these negative impacts appeared to diminish over time. What stood out were the brain-protective benefits of positive lifestyle factors, including restorative sleep, healthy weight maintenance, stress management, avoidance of tobacco and having supportive relationships.
“These are things that people have some level of control over,” corresponding author Jared Tanner, a research associate professor of clinical and health psychology at the University of Florida, said in a news release. “You can learn how to perceive stress differently. Poor sleep is very treatable. Optimism can be practiced.”
Participants who reported the most protective factors had brains approximately eight years younger than their chronological age at the study’s onset. Additionally, their brains continued to age more slowly over the following two years.
“The message is consistent across our studies,” added senior author Kimberly Sibille, an associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UF. “Health-promoting behaviors are not only associated with lower pain and better physical functioning, they appear to actually bolster health in an additive fashion at a meaningful level.”
Published in the journal Brain Communications, the study brings to light that while older brains are more susceptible to memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, lifestyle factors have a major impact on brain health.
The research underlines that the brain age gap — a comprehensive measure of whole-brain health — captures the intricate effects of pain, stress and life experiences on the brain.
Though the study primarily involved individuals living with chronic pain, it suggests that similar lifestyle factors could also slow brain aging in broader populations.
“Literally for every additional healthy promoting factor there is some evidence of neurobiological benefit,” Sibille added. “Our findings support the growing body of evidence that Lifestyle is medicine.”
Source: University of Florida