Unlocking the Secrets: How Lifestyle Choices Can Defend Against Dementia and Late-Life Depression

A recent investigation emphasizes lifestyle components that can safeguard against age-associated brain disorders, such as depression and late-life depression. The study utilized the “Brain Care Score,” which evaluates lifestyle elements, and determined that a higher Brain Care Score correlates with a diminished risk of age-related neurological diseases, including stroke, late-life depression, and dementia.

The Brain Care Score, developed by experts at Mass General Brigham, consists of a 21-point evaluation that assesses lifestyle habits alongside clinical measurements, generating a score indicative of risk for age-associated brain conditions.

This study particularly examined Brain Care Scores in individuals with varying levels of genetic vulnerability to dementia, depression, and stroke. Authors Sandro Marini, M.D., affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital, along with colleagues, discovered that “across various genetic susceptibilities for stroke, late-life depression, and dementia, healthier lifestyle practices contribute to brain health, highlighting the nondeterminism of genetic predisposition.”

The study encompassed data from over 368,000 participants (average age 58) in the UK Biobank, followed for a median duration of 12.5 years. Regardless of genetic risk, a 5-point elevation in Brain Care Score was linked to a reduced risk of stroke, depression, and dementia. Although the occurrences of all three conditions were more prevalent among those with high genetic risk, the heightened risks were mitigated for individuals possessing higher Brain Care Scores.

The Brain Care assessment includes evaluations of dietary practices, alcohol intake, aerobic exercise, sleeping patterns, stress levels, social connections, life purpose, smoking, blood pressure, Hemoglobin A1c, cholesterol values, and Body Mass Index. The Brain Care Score assessment is accessible online, and upon completion, it provides a PDF of results that can facilitate discussions with a healthcare provider to assist in directing lifestyle modifications.

Co-authors Christopher D. Anderson, M.D., MSc, and Jonathan Rosand, M.D., MSc, remark in a Research Spotlight from Mass General Brigham: “Our research underscores the significant impact healthy lifestyle decisions can have, even for those of us who, due to our genetics, face a greater risk of decline in our brain health as we age. For everyone, including those with heightened genetic susceptibility, the BCS provides a straightforward and clear guide on how to protect our brains as we grow older. Patients can feel empowered to continue altering their habits to enhance their health outcomes, irrespective of their genetic predisposition.” (Anderson and Rosand, 2024)

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