Simple Daily Habits May Slow Brain Aging, Study Finds

Simple Daily Habits May Slow Brain Aging, Study Finds
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A new study from the University of Florida suggests that adopting simple, healthy daily habits can help maintain cognitive sharpness and slow the pace of brain aging, according to Earth.com. The research, published in Brain Communications and led by Dr. Kimberly T. Sibille, followed adults at risk for knee pain over a two-year period. Researchers used MRI scans and machine learning, specifically the DeepBrainNet model, to estimate each participant’s “brain age gap,” the difference between chronological age and estimated brain age.

The study found that participants who practiced multiple protective lifestyle habits had brains that appeared approximately eight years younger than their actual age at the start of the study and also experienced a slower rate of brain aging over the subsequent two years. Key habits linked to better brain health included maintaining high-quality sleep, which helps regulate emotions and attention and mitigates the long-term effects of stress on memory and mood. Higher levels of optimism were associated with lower stress and better sleep, while strong social support acted as a measurable buffer against everyday stress.

Researchers also observed that socioenvironmental risks, such as lower income and less education, were linked to older-looking brains at baseline. While the study was observational and cannot establish direct cause-and-effect relationships, the findings suggest that small, cumulative improvements in lifestyle factors, including sleep, mindset, and social engagement, may meaningfully bolster brain health over time.