Brain health is shaped by the interaction of lifestyle, environment and social conditions

As we age, our brains undergo a natural decline in cognitive function and physical health. However, research has long been divided on whether certain factors can influence this aging process.

Two recent studies from Forschungszentrum Jülich have provided new answers to this question. By analyzing extensive data from the UK Biobank—a long-term prospective biobank study in the U.K.—the researchers aimed to understand how environmental and lifestyle factors interact with one another.

The study, led by Prof. Dr. Sarah Genon and carried out primarily at the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine—Brain and Behavior (INM-7) at Forschungszentrum Jülich—the focus was on the concept known as the "exposome." This refers to the totality of all environmental and lifestyle factors to which a person is exposed over their lifetime—from diet and exercise to diseases, air quality, and social conditions.

Using two AI-based models, the researchers assessed the influence of more than 260 different factors on brain health and aging. They found that not only the type of risk factor matters, but also how long it persists and at what stage of life it takes effect. Long-term exposures, such as high blood pressure or smoking, are closely linked to a less favorable development of brain structure.

The study's findings underscore the importance of early preventive measures. Identifying and reducing health risks at an early stage can have a positive long-term effect on brain health. A second study published in Nature Medicine significantly broadened this perspective—from the individual to the global level.

An international research team analyzed data from about 18,700 people across 34 countries and linked the data to comprehensive information on environmental and societal factors. They found that conditions such as air pollution, climatic conditions, socioeconomic inequality, and political frameworks—for example, differences in access to health care and social security systems—are closely linked to the rate at which the brain ages.

This highlights just how diverse the influences on brain health are—and how closely individual and societal factors are interlinked. By understanding these complex interactions, we can take steps to promote optimal brain health across our lifespan.