Can Technology Help Slow Down Brain Aging?
It’s well-established that our Brain lifestyles significantly influence our health and longevity. Now, scientists are exploring whether new technology can also help slow the aging process of our brains by monitoring their changes over time.
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Brain
On a bright morning, 76-year-old Marijke, originally from the Netherlands, and her husband Tom invited me to their home in Loma Linda, an hour east of Los Angeles, for breakfast. Their meal consisted of oatmeal, chai seeds, and berries—no processed sugary cereals or coffee—a testament to Loma Linda’s health-focused ethos.
Loma Linda is recognized as one of the world’s Blue Zones, regions where people enjoy longer-than-average lifespans. This longevity is particularly evident in the city’s Seventh-Day Adventist Church community. Members typically abstain from alcohol and caffeine, adhere to vegetarian or vegan diets, and view maintaining their health as a religious duty. This “health message” has made the city a subject of decades of research, aiming to uncover the reasons behind its residents’ extended lifespans.
Dr. Gary Fraser from the University of Loma Linda noted that members of this community not only live longer but also enjoy an extended “healthspan,” meaning more years spent in good health—four to five extra years for women and seven extra years for men. Marijke and Tom moved to Loma Linda later in life but have since become integral members of the community.
Marijke and Tom’s lifestyle is no mystery. They lead healthy lives, stay mentally stimulated, and benefit from the sense of community that their religion provides. The city offers regular lectures on healthy living, musical gatherings, and exercise classes. Judy, a resident at an assisted living facility, emphasized the importance of socialization for brain health, stating, “What I didn’t realize was how important socialization is to your brain… without it, it seems to shrink and go away.”
Science has long recognized the benefits of social interactions and avoiding loneliness. Now, with advancements in technology, it’s possible to identify whose brains are aging faster than they should, allowing for better preventative measures. Personalized, predictive, and preventative healthcare models, powered by AI and big data, are becoming crucial in all areas of health.
During my visit, Andrei Irimia, an associate professor of gerontology and computational biology at the University of Southern California, showed me computer models that assess and predict brain aging. These models, created using MRI scans and data from 15,000 brains, utilize AI to understand the trajectories of healthy brains and those affected by diseases like dementia. “It’s a very sophisticated way to look at patterns that we don’t necessarily know about as humans, but the AI algorithm is able to pick up on them,” he explained.
I had undergone a functional MRI scan before my visit. Prof. Irimia analyzed the results and found my brain age to be eight months older than my chronological age, though he noted a two-year error margin. Private companies are also commercializing this technology. Brainkey, for example, offers services in various clinics worldwide. Its founder, Owen Philips, emphasized the increasing accessibility and improving quality of MRI scans, enhancing our understanding of individual brain health with AI support.
Brainkey’s analysis estimated my brain’s biological age to be a year younger than my chronological age, and I received a life-sized 3D-printed model of my brain. The goal is not only more precise treatment but also the ability to measure the effectiveness of interventions.
The past two centuries have seen dramatic increases in life expectancy, leading to age-related diseases. Prof. Irimia noted the ongoing quest to push back conditions like dementia, ideally beyond our life expectancies. Lifestyle remains crucial; good diet, physical activity, mental stimulation, and happiness are key to healthy brain aging.
Sleep is another vital factor, according to Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of “Why We Sleep.” He emphasized that sleep enhances brain and body health by cleansing the brain of beta-amyloid and tau proteins, which are linked to Alzheimer’s. Changes in sleep patterns, starting as early as our 30s, could be a model for midlife prevention.
Researchers are also investigating other innovative approaches. Fauna Bio, a biotech company, studies ground squirrels’ hibernation to understand neuron regrowth and brain connections, aiming to replicate these processes in humans. Additionally, untreated depression raises the risk of dementia. Professor Leanne Williams of Stanford University has developed a method to visualize depression in the brain using MRI, potentially aiding in understanding and treating mental health conditions.
Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson is also exploring longevity through rigorous health regimes and treatments to reverse his biological age. His efforts underscore the growing interest in leveraging science and technology to enhance health and longevity.
In conclusion, combining healthy lifestyles with cutting-edge technology offers promising avenues for slowing brain aging and improving overall health, paving the way for a future where we can live longer, healthier lives.
