New Research Links Crow’s Feet to Early Dementia Risk: Wrinkles and Cognitive Decline Explained
- Recent research suggests that deepening crow’s feet may indicate an increased risk of dementia.
- Researchers at Fudan University in China analyzed data from 200,000 participants with an average age of 64 over a 12-year period.
- In a second part of the study, researchers photographed 612 men and women aged 63.
Crow’s Feet and Dementia Risk: New Research Findings
Recent research suggests that deepening crow’s feet may indicate an increased risk of dementia. A study published in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy examined the connection between facial aging and cognitive decline.
Researchers at Fudan University in China analyzed data from 200,000 participants with an average age of 64 over a 12-year period. They discovered that individuals perceived to look older than their actual age were significantly more likely to develop dementia. Specifically, participants who looked older were:
- 61% more likely to develop dementia
- 23% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s
- 74% more likely to have unspecified types of dementia
In a second part of the study, researchers photographed 612 men and women aged 63. They used computer analysis to evaluate age indicators in the images. The results showed that more pronounced facial wrinkles, particularly around the crow’s feet area, were linked to cognitive impairment. Those with more wrinkles were 2.5 times more likely to exhibit cognitive decline.
One possible explanation for this connection is skin damage caused by sun exposure, which may negatively impact cognitive health. Previous studies on animals suggest that sun-induced skin aging might harm the neuro-immune system that protects brain cells.
These findings highlight the potential relationship between facial aging and cognitive health, suggesting that facial wrinkles may serve as an early warning sign for dementia.