[문지숙 교수의 헬시 에이징] Professor, Department of Biotechnology, CHA University of Science and Technology
There is a proverb that says: “Habits from three years old last until eighty”. The same goes for health. Lifestyle habits in your 40s and 50s, not when you’re three, determine your health in later life.
If you properly manage your health in your 40s and 50s, your quality of life in later life will improve dramatically. On the other hand, if you neglect your health during this period of active social activity, the risk of exposure to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension and cancer significantly increases.
Relatedly, in the “young blood, old blood” study, the anti-aging effect was excellent when rats after middle age were transfused with the blood of young rats. This study highlights the importance of healthcare in midlife by demonstrating that blood from young mice has a positive effect on older mice.
However, in the case of mice that were too old, when the blood vessels were connected to young mice, the aging factor had a negative effect on the young mice and no therapeutic effect occurred. This can be applied similarly to humans, suggesting that managing the health of middle-aged people is key to delaying aging and living a healthy old age.
These research findings are based on a study jointly conducted by Professor Vadim Gladyshev of Hevard Medical School, who showed that blood from young rats was very effective in prolonging the life of rats after middle age, and had a positive effect not only in prolonging the life of rats after middle age. life but also on biological age. This proves that it exists (Bohan Zhang et al., Nature Aging, 2023).
Specifically, in a study at the University of Washington School of Medicine, when an enzyme called eNAMPT was obtained from young mice and supplemented with older mice, their health improved and their lifespan was extended by 16%. %. This enzyme regulates a critical step in how cells produce energy and has been shown to decline with age and increase health problems (WashU Med).
Especially in middle age, the fear of developing dementia gradually begins to arise. This is linked to the health anxiety that occurs when people confuse forgetfulness with the symptoms of early dementia.
This phenomenon that occurs in the human brain can be seen primarily as a “working memory overload”. Working memory can be considered a “mental workbench” used to process and control various information simultaneously. In middle age we have to juggle more tasks and responsibilities than when we were younger, which increases the amount of information we need to process and puts a strain on the working memory area of the brain. This is similar to an error that occurs when a computer’s central processing unit (CPU) is overloaded.
If the brain’s working memory capacity exceeds its limits, errors can occur when processing information. This can also affect the activation of long-term memory or the storage of new information, which in brain science is called “cognitive overload.” A variety of factors, including stress, lack of sleep and illness, can influence memory problems. To manage forgetfulness in midlife, it’s best to practice adequate rest, stress management, and healthy lifestyle habits along with strategies to reduce working memory load.
So what is the difference between forgetfulness and early symptoms of dementia? Forgetfulness is a temporary loss of memory, which means temporarily forgetting certain information or facts. On the other hand, in early dementia, cognitive decline is more severe and persistent.
There are many differences between forgetfulness and early symptoms of dementia. Forgetting is the forgetting of simple, temporary information that may naturally come to mind later. On the other hand, in early-stage dementia, people often forget important information or recent events and cannot remember them.
Forgetting does not significantly affect daily life, and forgotten information is not a big problem. On the other hand, early-stage dementia makes it difficult to carry out daily activities due to memory loss and causes severe communication difficulties, such as losing words during a conversation or using words that do not fit the context. Mood and behavioral changes such as personality changes, depression, anxiety, and abnormal behaviors are also evident.
In cases of forgetfulness, however, mood changes are generally mild or stabilize immediately. One thing to watch out for is that if forgetfulness is prolonged and added stress and decreased physical activity, i.e. if the brain nerves are overused, brain health problems can occur.
According to Dr. Brinder Brown’s research, moderate physical activity reduces the concentration of “amyloid beta protein” in the brain, a substance known to cause dementia.
Summarizing various research findings, it is said that brain health can only be improved by actively engaging in physical activity starting from the age of 40. Exercise plays an important role in maintaining brain health. Aerobic exercise increases cerebral blood flow, promotes nerve cell production, and strengthens nerve connections. Numerous research findings demonstrate that strength training also has a positive effect on brain function. Furthermore, correct eating habits are known to improve neuronal production and neurosynaptic plasticity. However, excessive fat intake can cause inflammation in the brain and reduce cognitive function.
Therefore, it is very important to maintain healthy eating habits from the age of 40, following a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and proteins. Fish, walnuts and flaxseeds, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, also reduce inflammation and promote brain cell production.
Managing stress properly is also important for maintaining brain health. This is because chronic stress reduces cognitive function and impairs neuroplasticity.
The secret to staying healthy is not much different. Maintain psychological stability by communicating appropriately with family and friends, manage stress by taking regular breaks every day, and reduce stress through hobbies, meditation, breathing exercises and psychological therapy.
Healthy sleep is also essential for brain health, and engaging in regular social activities can reduce feelings of loneliness and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. You can slow the decline in cognitive function by activating your brain through reading, solving puzzles, and learning new skills.
The era of super-aging is unfolding before our eyes. You need to maintain a healthy lifestyle starting in your 40s and 50s to expect a healthy life worthy of the 100-year age.
Ji-Sook Moon, Professor, Department of Biotechnology, CHA University of Science and Technology
Daeik Kwon Medical Reporter dkwon@hankookilbo.com
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