Scoop: Biological Age May Increase Dementia Risk
Link Between Age-Related Biological Processes and Dementia Risk Highlighted in Recent Research
Chronological age might not be the sole predictor of dementia risk—that's the takeaway from a fresh study from Zhengzhou University in China. According to the research, biological age, a measure of how effectively the body functions compared to its actual age, can be a stronger predictor of dementia risk.
This groundbreaking study was published on 9th February 2025, in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The research team tracked 280,918 individuals (average age 57) over a 14-year period, using data from the UK Biobank.
The study reveals that a faster rate of biological aging is linked to a 14-15% higher risk of dementia. Researchers measured biological aging using the Klemera-Doubal Method Biological Age (KDM-BA), which relies on blood test results, and PhenoAge, which uses clinical data related to aging and mortality.
More alarmingly, for each increase in the rate of biological aging, as measured by these methods, the risk of dementia rose. However, the researchers also found that certain changes in brain structure, like gray matter volume, cortical thickness, and surface area, help explain the link between higher biological aging and dementia.
Sadly, dementia is a significant burden, with over 6 million Americans currently living with the condition. It accounts for around 100,000 annual deaths. Despite a 13% decrease per decade due to measures like better education, heart health, and lifestyle, the number of cases continues to rise with an aging population, putting pressure on healthcare systems worldwide.
As scientists race to combat dementia, they're investigating novel approaches such as gene therapies, advanced drugs, and artificial intelligence. By understanding biological age, experts believe they can foster more personalized treatment plans and wellness recommendations.
This focus on biological age transcends generic care by providing a targeted approach to identify and reduce risks, like dementia, earlier. Additionally, technological advancements in AI are being harnessed to aid early detection through sophisticated brain imaging and biological age tracking.
In this new era of customized health management, breakthroughs like these offer hope that we can combat the growing crisis of dementia.
This article was edited by Sebastian Sinclair and Josh Quittner.
With recent advancements, the fight against dementia is heating up in three key areas: gene therapies, drug development, and AI-driven diagnostic tools.
In gene therapies, researchers are looking at CRISPR-engineered microglia that produce enzymes to break down beta-amyloid plaques, CRISPR-based amyloid modulation aimed at restoring balance in amyloid pathways, and neurotrophic factor delivery to slow down Alzheimer's progression.
In the field of drug development, while novel drug data isn't extensively detailed in recent results, gene therapies are increasingly prioritized for their potential to address root causes.
Finally, AI is being utilized to analyze brain imaging for subtle changes years before symptoms appear and to integrate biomarkers for predicting dementia risk using machine learning models. Recent trials highlight the importance of biomarker validation, suggesting that AI tools may leverage similar data for helpful predictive insights in the future.
- The study from Zhengzhou University suggests that biological age, not just chronological age, could be a stronger predictor of dementia risk.
- The study, published in Neurology, tracked 280,918 individuals over a 14-year period using data from the UK Biobank.
- The research reveals that a faster rate of biological aging, measured by methods like the Klemera-Doubal Method Biological Age (KDM-BA) and PhenoAge, is linked to a 14-15% higher risk of dementia.
- As scientists combat dementia, they're investigating novel approaches like gene therapies, advanced drugs, and artificial intelligence.
- The focus on biological age and early detection through AI-driven diagnostic tools is expected to provide a targeted approach to identify and reduce dementia risks.
- In the field of drug development, gene therapies are increasingly prioritized for their potential to address root causes of dementia.
