Not everyone’s brain ages at the same rate.
Andria L. Ford, professor of neurology, adult stroke & cerebrovascular disease at Washington University of St. Louis Medicine, looks into one reason why.
Dr. Andria L. Ford is a neurologist at WashU Medicine specializing in stroke, cerebrovascular diseases, and the neurological complications of sickle cell disease. Her research focuses on stroke prevention, vascular cognitive impairment, and the impact of chronic illness and socioeconomic status on brain health. Dr. Ford’s work aims to improve the understanding of how these factors affect brain structure and cognitive function, particularly in young adults and individuals facing economic deprivation.
How Sickle Cell Disease and Socioeconomic Status Impact Brain Aging
Sickle cell disease is a chronic illness with far-reaching effects beyond its well-known risks for stroke. Even without a stroke, individuals with sickle cell disease often experience cognitive difficulties like problems with memory, focus, and problem-solving. These challenges have long been difficult to fully explain. Some have difficulties with meeting basic academic milestones or achieving career goals.
A new study from our team sheds light on this issue by revealing that adults with sickle cell disease have brains that appear older than their actual age. This finding helps us understand why cognitive challenges are so common for these patients. In fact, our research shows that the average brain of a sickle cell patient looks about 14 years older than it should. Even more troubling, these individuals scored lower on cognitive tests, correlating their older-looking brains with diminished cognitive performance.
But it’s not just sickle cell disease that impacts brain health. We also found that socioeconomic factors—such as poverty—are linked to brain aging. Healthy individuals experiencing economic deprivation showed a similar, though less severe, effect. On average, their brains appeared about seven years older than their actual age.
These results suggest that both chronic illness and socioeconomic status can negatively impact brain development or potentially accelerate brain aging. By identifying these brain changes early, we hope to offer new ways to prevent cognitive decline and preserve brain health.
Ultimately, understanding how these factors slow brain development or accelerate brain aging can guide us toward earlier screening and identification of future cognitive challenges, as well as escalating medication treatments or intervening with classroom support for people with sickle cell disease and those facing economic challenges, helping them lead to healthier and fully independent lives.
Read More:
[WashU Medicine] – Brains of people with sickle cell disease appear older
