Brain of poor people ages faster - study
A study by Aga Khan University suggests that childhood poverty and hunger have a more significant negative impact on brain aging than conditions like cancer. The research indicates that early-life stability and education are key predictors of cognitive health in later years.
Why it matters
These findings shift the focus of brain health research toward socioeconomic factors, suggesting that early intervention in poverty could have long-term cognitive benefits.
Human brain / AI Growing up in poverty may make the brain grow old faster than even a cancer diagnosis would, a new Kenyan study by Aga Khan University has found.
The study showed people who faced hunger as children or lived in poor households were more likely to have memory and thinking problems later in life than people living with cancer.
Some cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy, can sometimes affect memory, attention and thinking.
Researchers said the findings challenge the common belief that diseases such as cancer are the biggest threats to brain health in old age.
The three-year study, called Brain Resilience Kenya, followed more than 404 adults aged 35 years and above from different backgrounds across Kenya.
Scientists wanted to understand why some people keep sharp minds as they grow older, while others struggle with memory, learning and decision-making.
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