Health
Investigators identify 17 shared risk elements linked to age-related neurological diseases
Research indicates that altering one factor may decrease the likelihood of stroke, dementia, and late-life depression
Seventeen amendable factors have been discovered that could decrease the chance of developing age-related neurological conditions such as stroke, dementia, and late-life depression, as per findings from researchers at Mass General Brigham, affiliated with Harvard.
The research revealed a diminished risk of all three ailments by adjusting any one of the 17 factors. The findings, which deliver evidence to support innovative tools, like the Brain Care Score, are published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.
The researchers meticulously reviewed the scientific literature for earlier meta-analyses examining risk factors tied to stroke, dementia, and late-life depression. They subsequently consolidated this information to discover amendable risk factors (i.e., those that can be modified through changes in behavior) common to at least two of the three conditions. They also assessed the relative influence of each risk factor on quality of life measures and premature mortality.
Ultimately, the researchers identified shared risk factors affecting at least two of the disorders, including blood pressure, kidney issues, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, hearing impairment, discomfort, physical activity, life purpose, sleep, smoking, social interaction, and stress. Among these, elevated blood pressure and severe kidney issues had the most significant effect on the occurrence and impact of stroke, dementia, and late-life depression.
| Diabetes | Diabetes serves as a risk factor for stroke, dementia, and depression. |
| Blood Pressure | High blood pressure is a principal risk factor for all three conditions. |
| Kidney Issues | Kidney issues may elevate the risk of stroke, dementia, and depression. |
| Fasting Plasma Glucose | Elevated blood sugar levels, shown by fasting plasma glucose, are a risk factor. |
| Total Cholesterol | High cholesterol levels can heighten the risk of stroke and dementia. |
| Alcohol Consumption | Excessive alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of stroke, dementia, and depression. |
| Dietary Habits | An unhealthy diet can aid in the advancement of all three conditions. |
| Hearing Impairment | Hearing impairment is an amendable risk factor for dementia. |
| Discomfort | Chronic discomfort can elevate the risk of depression and potentially other issues. |
| Physical Activity | A deficiency in physical activity is a risk factor for all three conditions. |
| Life Purpose | A lack of life purpose can contribute to depression and potentially other issues. |
| Sleep | Poor sleep quality and insufficient quantity may increase the risk of depression and other conditions. |
| Smoking | Smoking is a significant risk factor for stroke, dementia, and depression. |
| Social Interaction | A deficiency in social interaction can contribute to depression and other issues. |
| Stress | Chronic stress can elevate the risk of depression and other issues. |
| Depression | Untreated depression can increase the risk of additional issues. |
| Obesity | Obesity represents a risk factor for stroke, dementia, and depression. |
Conversely, engaging in physical activity and partaking in leisure activities with cognitive components (e.g., puzzles) were correlated with a diminished risk of disease, although researchers suspect these correlations might be symptomatic rather than causal, as those afflicted with brain diseases may be less able to engage in such physical and cognitive activities.
“Dementia, stroke, and late-life depression are interconnected and interrelated, so if one is diagnosed, there is a considerable probability of developing another in the future,” stated first author Jasper Senff, a postdoctoral fellow at the Singh Lab within the Brain Care Labs at Mass General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. “Moreover, due to the overlap of these risk factors, preventative measures could decrease the occurrence of multiple diseases simultaneously, presenting an opportunity to lessen the burden posed by age-related brain conditions.”
Researchers from Mass General Brigham developed and validated the Brain Care Score to assess actions aimed at safeguarding brain health and provide recommendations for improvement. The researchers have revised the Brain Care Score to integrate the latest scientific insights. They emphasize the necessity for further investigations into amendable risk elements for late-life depression and advocate for a randomized controlled trial to test an intervention utilizing the Brain Care Score.
“Healthcare has become increasingly intricate. However, these insights remind us that disease prevention can be quite straightforward. Why? Many prevalent diseases share identical risk factors,” remarked Jonathan Rosand, a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, founder of the Global Brain Care Coalition, and the JP Kistler Endowed Chair in Neurology at MGH.