Can high biological age increase the risk of dementia and stroke?

A recent study conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institute has uncovered a compelling association between accelerated biological aging and a heightened risk of stroke and dementia, particularly vascular dementia. While the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders tends to rise with age, conventional measures have relied on chronological age – the number of years an individual has lived – to gauge a person's approximate biological age.

To delve into biological age and its connection to disease risk, the researchers leveraged data from the UK Biobank. Their study encompassed 325,000 individuals aged between 40 and 70 at the time of their initial assessment. Biological age was determined using 18 biomarkers, including indicators such as blood lipids, blood sugar, blood pressure, lung function, and BMI. Subsequently, the team explored how these biomarkers related to the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, stroke, ALS, and Parkinson's disease over a nine-year period.

The study uncovered a substantial increase in the risk of dementia, especially vascular dementia, and ischemic stroke when biological age exceeded chronological age. Given the observational nature of the study, it cannot establish causal relationships. However, the results suggest that by slowing the aging processes of the body as indicated by the measured biomarkers, it may be plausible to reduce or delay the onset of these debilitating diseases.

Reference: “Clinical biomarker-based biological aging and future risk of neurological disorders in the UK Biobank”, Jonathan Mak, Christopher McMurran, Sara Hägg, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry , online 6 November 2023, DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2023-331917