Scientists have long recognized the human brain appears to keep time to its own internal clock, its biological age speeding or slowing depending on a host of factors. Someone with a higher education, for example, might have a younger-looking brain than someone without one, research has suggested. Surprisingly, dancing appears to keep the brain young. Meditation might do the same. And stress has been associated with an older-appearing brain.
Now, a new study led by a University of Florida Institute on Aging researcher found the brain age of older adults with chronic pain had accelerated by an average of two years, while those without chronic pain had brains whose aging had slowed by four years. This might have important health implications since previous research has associated accelerated brain aging with an elevated risk of poor mental and physical health, including Alzheimer’s disease.
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