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Business Standard
25-07-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Your brain might have aged faster during the pandemic, even without Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic may have accelerated the ageing of the human brain, even in people who were never infected, according to a new study. Mounting stress, prolonged isolation, and widespread disruption during the pandemic appear to have left lasting biological effects on brain structure. Researchers have now found measurable signs of this accelerated ageing across the general population, with older adults, men, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds being most affected. The study, led by researchers at the University of Nottingham and published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, titled Accelerated brain ageing during the Covid-19 pandemic, analysed brain scans of 996 healthy adults sourced from UK Biobank, which holds the de-identified biological and health data of over half a million people. The scans taken before and after the pandemic showed that brains aged an average of 5.5 months faster during lockdown. The findings showed that while men aged about six months faster, women aged by around 4.5 months. Those from disadvantaged backgrounds experienced up to seven months of additional brain ageing. According to the researchers, this is the first major study to isolate pandemic stress from actual Covid infection and still find evidence of measurable brain ageing. How did researchers measure brain ageing? Using AI models trained on more than 15,000 brain scans, scientists calculated each participant's 'brain age gap'—the difference between how old their brain appeared versus their actual age. A larger gap indicated faster ageing. They compared people scanned twice before the pandemic with those scanned once before and once after. The latter group, who lived through lockdowns, social isolation, and economic stress, showed significantly faster brain ageing. Can stress actually age your brain? Emerging research suggests it can. Chronic stress, lack of social stimulation, disrupted routines, and reduced cognitive engagement can all affect brain regions responsible for memory and executive function. The researchers emphasised that brain health is shaped not only by disease but also by environmental factors and everyday experiences. Who was most affected by accelerated brain ageing? According to the study, the most affected groups were: Men (33 per cent more acceleration than women) Older adults Individuals from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds The findings suggest that socioeconomic vulnerability, limited healthcare access, and lower social support systems heightened the impact of pandemic-related stress. How did Covid infection affect the brain differently? While brain ageing was seen across the general population, cognitive decline was reported only in those who had been infected with Covid-19. Infected individuals performed worse on mental flexibility and processing speed tests, especially the Trail Making Test (TMT), which is often used to assess early dementia symptoms. Thus, while pandemic stress altered brain structure, infection was linked to functional cognitive decline. Are these brain changes permanent? It is unclear. Since the study only measured two time points per person, researchers cannot yet confirm whether brain ageing will stabilise or reverse over time. However, they remain cautiously optimistic. 'Our study highlights the pandemic's significant impact on brain health, beyond direct infection effects, and underscores the need to address broader social and health inequalities,' the authors noted. How can you protect your brain now? Even if the pandemic aged your brain slightly, there are proven ways to support brain health: Maintain regular social connections Engage in physical activity Follow a brain-healthy diet Prioritise mental well-being and sleep Keep your mind active with learning and problem-solving While ageing is inevitable, experts say the rate of cognitive decline can still be influenced. According to experts, by avoiding certain everyday habits, like prolonged sitting, skipping meals, excessive screen time, chronic stress, and social isolation, we may be able to slow down cognitive ageing and protect our mental well-being.
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The 3 simple at-home tests to check how well YOUR brain is really ageing
WHILE it's impossible to predict your exact lifespan, experts have developed simple tests over the years to gauge how well (or how badly) a person is ageing. The Advertisement 3 Cognitive fitness is a good measure of how well a person is ageing Credit: Getty The test can be a predictor of frailty and mortality - lower scores may indicate a higher risk of falls and reduced mobility. But if you want to really understand how well you're ageing, it's important to look beyond physical health. Mental sharpness, emotional resilience and social connection matter just as much, says Writing for Advertisement Read more on anti-ageing Three tests he recommends are the Trail Making Test, the Stroop Task, and Dual-task Challenge. He says: " These kinds of tasks test how well your brain handles competing demands – a key ability that becomes even more important as we age. " This skill is known as cognitive flexibility , and it helps you adapt to changing situations, switch between tasks and manage distractions. " Trail Making Test 3 The Trail Making Test involves connecting dots in a specific order Credit: Getty Advertisement The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological test used to assess visual attention, task switching, and executive function. Most read in Health Exclusive It involves connecting dots in a specific order. A subject is given a sheet containing the dots (numbers and letters) and a pencil. 10 second one leg stand test For part A, the subject is instructed to connect the numbers in numerical order as quickly as possible. Advertisement For part B, the subject is instructed to connect the alternating numbers and letters in the correct sequence. The time taken to complete each part is recorded. Part A measures psychomotor speed and visual search. Part B measures executive function, including set-shifting and inhibition. Advertisement Time difference between part A and part B can indicate difficulties with task switching and executive function. As well as being a test for ageing you can do at home, the TMT is used in various clinical settings, including evaluating brain injury, identifying early signs of dementia, and tracking progress after brain injuries and other neurological conditions. Stroop Task The Stroop task is a psychological experiment designed to measure cognitive interference, specifically the interference between reading a word and naming the colour it's written in. Participants are presented with colour words, and the task is to name the colour of the ink the word is printed in, even when the word itself contradicts that colour. Advertisement The word "RED" might be printed in blue ink, creating a conflict between the word's meaning and the ink colour. Signs of difficulty with the Stroop task include slower reaction times, increased errors, and finding it hard to override the automatic tendency to read the word rather than identify the colour. In clinical settings, the Stroop task can be used to assess attention deficits and cognitive flexibility, such as evaluating individuals with ADHD or other neurological conditions. Dual-task Challenge 3 The Dual-task Challenge involves performing two tasks simultaneously, such as walking and talking Credit: Getty Advertisement A Dual-task Challenge involves simultaneously performing two tasks, often a motor task and a cognitive task, to assess the impact of one task on the performance of the other. This approach is used to study how attention and cognitive resources are allocated and how multitasking can affect performance, particularly in areas like gait and balance. Common dual-task scenarios include walking while talking, counting while performing a physical exercise, or paying attention to a conversation while walking. Struggling with dual-task challenges can manifest in various ways. Advertisement You might experience decreased performance in either or both tasks, increased reaction times, or changes in physical movement like reduced walking speed or balance issues. Specifically, you could notice difficulties with tasks requiring cognitive flexibility, executive function, memory, attention, and processing speed. In some cases, people may also report increased Dual-task training is used in rehabilitation, particularly for individuals with neurological conditions or injuries, to improve balance and gait, and it's also used in research to understand how cognitive abilities influence physical performance. Advertisement But the most important thing to do when doing these tests is to complete them a few times at the start, then retest yourself once a month. That way you can track improvements or deterioration. Arkesteijn says: "Cognitive changes may be slower to notice than physical ones, so regular checks can help reveal progress over time." But he adds: "There's no single test or score that can capture how well you're ageing. Think of it more like a jigsaw puzzle. Advertisement "Physical health, mental agility, emotional balance, social connection - they all matter, and they all interact. "And of course, even if you perform well now, some changes inthe future may be beyond your control. "No test can fully predict what lies ahead." What you can do to slow down ageing Follow a healthy diet - Prioritise whole, unprocessed foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Exercise regularly - Engage in a variety of physical activities, including both aerobic and strength training. Manage stress - Practice Get adequate sleep - Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night. Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake - Smoking accelerates ageing, and excessive alcohol can have negative effects on health.
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The 3 simple at-home tests to check how well YOUR brain is really ageing
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHILE it's impossible to predict your exact lifespan, experts have developed simple tests over the years to gauge how well (or how badly) a person is ageing. The sit-to-stand test has gained popularity in recent years, with the aim to measure how many times a person can rise from a seated position to a standing position and back within 30 seconds. 3 Cognitive fitness is a good measure of how well a person is ageing Credit: Getty The test can be a predictor of frailty and mortality - lower scores may indicate a higher risk of falls and reduced mobility. But if you want to really understand how well you're ageing, it's important to look beyond physical health. Mental sharpness, emotional resilience and social connection matter just as much, says Marco Arkesteijn, a lecturer in sport and exercise biomechanics at Aberystwyth University. Writing for The Conversation, he advises a better way to test how well you're ageing is to assess your cognitive fitness, which includes skills like attention, memory and flexibility. Three tests he recommends are the Trail Making Test, the Stroop Task, and Dual-task Challenge. He says: "These kinds of tasks test how well your brain handles competing demands – a key ability that becomes even more important as we age. "This skill is known as cognitive flexibility, and it helps you adapt to changing situations, switch between tasks and manage distractions." Trail Making Test 3 The Trail Making Test involves connecting dots in a specific order Credit: Getty The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological test used to assess visual attention, task switching, and executive function. It involves connecting dots in a specific order. A subject is given a sheet containing the dots (numbers and letters) and a pencil. 10 second one leg stand test For part A, the subject is instructed to connect the numbers in numerical order as quickly as possible. For part B, the subject is instructed to connect the alternating numbers and letters in the correct sequence. The time taken to complete each part is recorded. Part A measures psychomotor speed and visual search. Part B measures executive function, including set-shifting and inhibition. Time difference between part A and part B can indicate difficulties with task switching and executive function. As well as being a test for ageing you can do at home, the TMT is used in various clinical settings, including evaluating brain injury, identifying early signs of dementia, and tracking progress after brain injuries and other neurological conditions. Stroop Task The Stroop task is a psychological experiment designed to measure cognitive interference, specifically the interference between reading a word and naming the colour it's written in. Participants are presented with colour words, and the task is to name the colour of the ink the word is printed in, even when the word itself contradicts that colour. The word "RED" might be printed in blue ink, creating a conflict between the word's meaning and the ink colour. Signs of difficulty with the Stroop task include slower reaction times, increased errors, and finding it hard to override the automatic tendency to read the word rather than identify the colour. In clinical settings, the Stroop task can be used to assess attention deficits and cognitive flexibility, such as evaluating individuals with ADHD or other neurological conditions. Dual-task Challenge 3 The Dual-task Challenge involves performing two tasks simultaneously, such as walking and talking Credit: Getty A Dual-task Challenge involves simultaneously performing two tasks, often a motor task and a cognitive task, to assess the impact of one task on the performance of the other. This approach is used to study how attention and cognitive resources are allocated and how multitasking can affect performance, particularly in areas like gait and balance. Common dual-task scenarios include walking while talking, counting while performing a physical exercise, or paying attention to a conversation while walking. Struggling with dual-task challenges can manifest in various ways. You might experience decreased performance in either or both tasks, increased reaction times, or changes in physical movement like reduced walking speed or balance issues. Specifically, you could notice difficulties with tasks requiring cognitive flexibility, executive function, memory, attention, and processing speed. In some cases, people may also report increased falls or a fear of falling due to the challenges of dual-tasking, especially when combined with occupational demands. Dual-task training is used in rehabilitation, particularly for individuals with neurological conditions or injuries, to improve balance and gait, and it's also used in research to understand how cognitive abilities influence physical performance. But the most important thing to do when doing these tests is to complete them a few times at the start, then retest yourself once a month. That way you can track improvements or deterioration. Arkesteijn says: "Cognitive changes may be slower to notice than physical ones, so regular checks can help reveal progress over time." But he adds: "There's no single test or score that can capture how well you're ageing. Think of it more like a jigsaw puzzle. "Physical health, mental agility, emotional balance, social connection - they all matter, and they all interact. "And of course, even if you perform well now, some changes inthe future may be beyond your control. "No test can fully predict what lies ahead."
