A recent research raises significant concerns about our long-term cognitive health by illuminating a troubling connection between elevated glucose levels, inflammation, and accelerated brain aging in women. The state of our blood vessels and inflammation may directly affect how rapidly our brains age, which may raise the risk of dementia, especially in later years, according to a groundbreaking study from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.

The research used artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the biological brain age of 739 healthy people aged 70 and beyond by analyzing their brain images. Researchers discovered that people with long-term illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, and cerebral small vessel disease—diseases that are more prevalent in older women—had brains that looked older than they really were. This accelerated aging process was also influenced by inflammation, a recognized risk factor for a number of health problems. It is particularly troubling for women, who are often more vulnerable to these illnesses.

The most notable lesson for women is that lifestyle choices can play a role in brain aging, in addition to genetics. The research also shows that although inflammation and elevated glucose levels accelerate the aging process of the brain, a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, may help slow down the aging process.

The findings support the notion that maintaining cognitive health requires making good decisions now more than ever.

The research measured individuals’ cognitive ability, glucose levels, lipids, and inflammatory markers using MRI images and blood tests to determine their biological brain age. According to the findings, individuals’ brains were, on average, a year older than their actual ages, and even older brain representations were associated with health conditions including high blood sugar.

This research emphasizes how crucial it is for women to control their blood sugar levels and maintain an active lifestyle in order to preserve their cognitive abilities. Anna Marseglia, the lead researcher, emphasized the need of preserving healthy blood vessels, saying, “The brain can be protected from premature aging by maintaining stable blood glucose levels.”

This study highlights the need of preserving not only our physical but also our mental health in light of the growing worries about dementia and Alzheimer’s. In the future, researchers want to investigate the possible differences in brain aging between men and women, which might lead to more specialized approaches to cognitive health.

For the time being, the message is clear: we can significantly alter how our brains age by adopting proactive measures to control glucose levels, lower inflammation, and lead healthy lives.