Researchers find out there's a direct link between brain aging and inequality in a country
Apart from our genetics, our lifestyle decides how we age. From our careers to our eating habits, everything has an impact on the aging process. However, recent studies have found a new factor that plays an important role in aging: the economy. A study published in the journal Nature Medicine tried to understand brain health and disease by studying discrepancies between brain age and chronological age. It revealed that people age at different paces with different effects due to "income and socioeconomic inequality, high levels of air pollution, limited access to timely and effective healthcare," and more.
The study was conducted on over 5,000 people across 15 different countries, and researchers suggested that the economy plays a major role in the age gaps. The study analyzed data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) to measure differences in brain health among various individuals. Dr. Daniel Abasolo, co-author of the study and head of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Surrey, pointed out that a person's physical aging and mental aging occur at different rates and are influenced by poignant factors, per SciTechDaily. As a result, a person’s physical age may not match their brain age.
They compared the brain age gaps of people from the 15 countries and concluded that the economic condition of the country a person lives in can affect their brain health. Pointing out one crucial element responsible for this, Abasolo said, “Our research shows that in countries where inequality is higher, people’s brains tend to age faster, especially in areas of the brain most affected by aging. We found that factors like socioeconomic inequality, air pollution, and the impact of diseases play a big role in this faster aging process, particularly in poorer countries.”
The study further aimed to explore the various factors under diversity that contribute to the aging of the brain. They compared brain ages for both healthy individuals and those with neurodivergent conditions. The most influential factors affecting brain health for most participants were neurocognitive disorders and socio-economic inequality. Other factors included pollution, resources, genetics, and so on. However, the fact that socio-economic inequality has a profoundly greater impact on brain health speaks volumes.
Many factors, such as health, well-being, and stress are largely connected to the economy on personal and social levels. Countries with a poor economy are likely to age quickly due to the aforementioned factors. The study’s findings open avenues to understand and identify people who are at greater risk of catching neurodivergent conditions and poorer brain health. Additionally, it also highlights the need to focus on economic and social factors with special reference to brain health and overall aging. Implementing healthy policies that keep inequality at bay and improvising on current economic systems and processes can greatly make a difference in the way brain health functions for a majority.