Stress and a sedentary lifestyle in your 20s can impair brain function in middle age, a study published in the journal Brain Health shows. neurology.
Scientists analyzed data from 2.3 thousand people. Their ages at the beginning of the observation ranged from 18 to 30. Over the next 18 years, their blood was tested four times for the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP).
The greater the inflammation in youth, the worse the brain test results at age 40 or 50. Inflammation is promoted by obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, stress and chronic diseases.
In the experiment, 10% of people with low inflammation were slower to process information and recall facts, compared to 21% and 19% in the moderate and high inflammation groups, respectively.
Scientists have previously linked inflammation to dementia in older people. The new study shows for the first time that inflammation in early life can affect brain function in middle age.
The authors recommended that young people quit smoking and pay more attention to physical activity.
Earlier scientists to create Molecules responsible for the regeneration of brain cells.