Can lifestyle habits help prevent mild cognitive impairment in aging adults?
image: Prevalence of cognitive decline pathologies in older individuals aged ≥ 60.
Credit: Tao Wang, Haining He, Yanchen Shi, Ning Su, Minjie Zhu, Feng Yan, Yuanyuan Liu, Juan Li, Muni Tang, Wei Chen, Feng Bao, Huali Wang, Yuping Wang, Ying Liu, Yefeng Yuan, Xiaoyun Zuo, Xulai Zhang, Lijuan Cui, Wenyuan Wu, Chencheng Zhang, Yong Lu, Yiru Fang, Shifu Xiao.
As China's population rapidly ages, the risk of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has surged. A new study published in General Psychiatry suggests that lifestyle factors like tea drinking, physical activity, and even cognitive engagement could play a crucial role in protecting brain health.
Researchers from the Shanghai Mental Health Center and other top medical institutions in China examined over 3,500 community-dwelling individuals aged 60 and above from 13 regions across China. Using neurocognitive tests and clinical assessments, they tracked those individuals’ changes in cognitive health over a year.
The study focused on two types of MCI: Amnestic MCI (aMCI), which is often an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease, and Vascular cognitive impairment without dementia (VCIND), which is caused by impaired blood flow to the brain.
Among participants, 14.8% had aMCI and 2.7% had VCIND, with annual incidence rates of 69.6 and 10.6 per 1000 person-years. Age was a risk factor for both conditions. For aMCI, higher education, tea drinking, and regular exercise were found to be protective. More years of education and performing intellectual work can increase the cognitive reserves of the brain. Tea, particularly green tea, is rich in antioxidants and other bioactive compounds that can have positive effects on brain health. As for regular exercise, it is known for maintaining brain health and increasing blood flow to the brain by providing it with more oxygen and nutrients.
In people with aMCI, endocrine disorders and head injuries were linked to faster cognitive decline, while in VCIND cases, high blood pressure was a key risk factor，along with age and depression. “We identified several modifiable factors for two different types of dementia in older people. Right now, there is still no drug that can mitigate the development of dementia. Small lifestyle habit like drinking tea or doing exercises is essential to delaying cognitive disease conditions” Dr. Wang Tao, the research leader, noted.
As China’s population continues to age, MCI is likely to pose an increasing challenge, but the study offers practical tools for prevention in daily life. By engaging in intellectually stimulating activities, enjoying regular cups of tea, and staying physically active, individuals can take proactive steps to support their brain health as they age. These simple habits can contribute to a healthier, more vibrant life in later years.