Your “Biological Age” Could Impact Your Risk of Stroke and Dementia

How old are you, biologically speaking? The answer may impact your risk for dementia and other neurological conditions. While chronological age is often used to assess disease risk, many experts believe that biological age, which reflects how old your cells are, may be a more precise indicator.

In a new study, researchers examined the impact of biological age on dementia, stroke, ALS, and Parkinson's disease over a nine-year period. They calculated the biological age of 325,000 middle-aged adults based on biomarkers such as blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids, lung function, and body mass index.

According to the study's lead co-author, the results revealed that if a person's biological age is five years higher than their chronological age, they have a 40% higher risk of developing vascular dementia or suffering a stroke. The risk of developing ALS was also found to increase with higher biological age. However, no higher odds were observed for Parkinson's disease.

The authors suggest that by slowing down the body's aging processes, particularly in terms of the measured biomarkers, it may be possible to reduce or delay the onset of these diseases. The researchers now plan to investigate the link between biological age and other diseases, such as cancer.