What's Your Brain Health Score? Assessing Your Dementia Risk
Discover your Brain Care Score to assess your risk of dementia and stroke Take proactive steps to care for your brain and prevent these conditions A groundbreaking study reveals how you can effectively protect your brain health for a better future
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A recent study has found that the Brain Care Score (BCS) can assess your risk of developing dementia or having a stroke as you age, without the need for medical procedures. Plus, it can provide advice on how to lower your risk.
The study published December 1 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology introduces the 21-point Brain Care Score, which evaluates a person's performance on 12 health-related factors related to physical, lifestyle, and social-emotional aspects of health. Participants with a higher score were found to have a reduced risk of developing dementia or experiencing a stroke later in life.
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Study finds that walking could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, and the speed at which you walk may impact the amount of risk reduction. "Patients and practitioners can begin concentrating on enhancing their BCS today, and the positive outcome is that improving these aspects will also result in overall health benefits," stated Dr. Jonathan Rosand, senior author of the study and co-founder of the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, in a news release.
The BCS incorporates recommendations from the American Heart Association's Lifes Essential (8) for cardiovascular health, as well as numerous modifiable risk factors for common cancers," said Rosand, the J.P. Kistler Endowed Chair in Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. "What benefits the brain also benefits the heart and the rest of the body." The physical components comprise blood pressure, cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, and body mass index, while lifestyle factors encompass nutrition, alcohol consumption, aerobic activities, sleep, and smoking. Social-emotional aspects pertain to relationships, stress management, and finding meaning in life.
The authors identified "the global brain health crisis" as a key driver for their research. In the United States, 1 in 7 people suffer from dementia, and every four minutes someone dies from a stroke, as stated in the study. Although prevention efforts can significantly decrease fatalities, the authors pointed out that the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 was created without any input from patients.
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The authors stated, "To better engage patients, we aimed to create a tool that addressed the most common question we receive from our patients and their families: How can I effectively care for my brain?"
The researchers aimed to confirm the effectiveness of their tool by examining the connection between the Brain Care Score of nearly 400,000 participants at the start of the UK Biobank study (which took place from 2006 to 2010) and the occurrence of dementia or stroke approximately 12 years later. The UK Biobank study has tracked the health of over 500,000 individuals aged 40 to 69 in the United Kingdom for a minimum of 10 years.
Among adults who enrolled at a younger than 50, each five-point increase in their score corresponded to a 59% reduction in the risk of developing dementia and a 48% decrease in the risk of experiencing a stroke later in life, according to the findings of the study. In their 50s, individuals had a 32% lower risk of dementia and a 52% lower risk of stroke. Participants who were older than 59 exhibited the smallest estimates, with an 8% lower risk of dementia and a 33% lower risk of stroke.
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Dr. Richard Isaacson, director of research at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Florida, emphasized the importance of individuals aged 40 and above with family members affected by Alzheimer's or dementia discussing their Brain Care Score with their doctor. "Many people are unaware that up to 40% of dementia cases can be preventable with the right approach," Isaacson stated, highlighting the significance of the Brain Care Score in providing a roadmap to address 12 modifiable factors before cognitive decline. He was not directly involved in the study.
Taking care of your brain is essential, and the authors found that older adults may not experience the full benefits because dementia tends to progress more slowly in this age group. This could result in practitioners not identifying early signs of dementia until it has significantly worsened.
Previous studies have consistently supported the positive effects of these health factors on brain health. In fact, swapping processed foods for natural options was linked to a 34% lower risk of dementia, and regular exercise and daily interactions with loved ones reduced the risk by 35% and 15%, as reported in two 2022 studies.
And "while most of these factors can be assessed at home, it's also crucial for individuals to be aware of their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels during their next primary care check-up," noted Isaacson. "Improving control of these vascular risk factors has the potential to significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and stroke."
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He stated that when paired with improved dietary choices, reduced alcohol intake, a sense of purpose in life, and social engagement, the benefits accumulate significantly over time. The researchers emphasized the need for more studies to determine if improving one's Brain Care Score over time can reduce the risk of stroke or dementia, as this is currently being investigated by the authors.
Rosand expressed confidence that enhancing your BCS over time will greatly lessen the likelihood of experiencing a stroke or developing dementia later on. However, he emphasized the importance of scientific evidence. Isaacson also suggested that taking part in research studies, such as this one, can effectively help in maintaining brain health, especially for those with limited access to health care.
Isaacson is a coinvestigator on an upcoming study funded by the National Institutes of Health. According to him, people can already register to be notified when it launches within the next month at YourBrainStudy.org. The website will guide people through a risk assessment, memory tests, and provide personalized advice, all from their own cell phone.
