Poverty, childhood hunger linked to brain resilience

Childhood hunger and poverty are the strongest indicators of cognitive resilience.[Courtesy]

People who survive childhood hunger and poverty have a more resilient brain structure.

A new study has revealed that poverty may have a greater impact on healthy brain ageing than a cancer diagnosis.

Findings from the study show that there was no evidence that people with breast or prostate cancer had poorer cognitive performance than those without cancer.

Instead, socioeconomic conditions and life experiences played a much larger role in determining brain resilience.

According to the study, 45 per cent of brain disorders of aging are Preventable.

“Brain disorders are rising globally, particularly in Africa, due to a rise in life expectancy and HCD,” the report showed. Further, brain disorders are the leading contributor to disability burden globally.

“Brain health is influenced by more than disease alone. We found that people diagnosed with cancer had more brain resilience compared to their caregivers, showing the great impact support has in advancing resilience,” Prof. Mansoor Saleh, Co-Principal Investigator.

The study by the Aga Khan University Brain and Mind Institute (AKU-BMI), dubbed the Brain Resilience Kenya (BRK), was conducted over three years among over 404 Kenyan adults aged 35 years and above to explore how biological, psychological, social and environmental factors affected healthy aging and reduced the risk of frailty and dementia.

The study, supported by Dartmouth University, found that lifelong experiences, including childhood conditions, cardiovascular health, education, social support and economic wellbeing, play a critical role in determining how well people maintain brain health as they age, demonstrating that brain resilience is shaped across the life course.

The report has shown that healthy brain aging is shaped across the lifespan. Childhood hunger and poverty were singled out as the strongest indicators of cognitive resilience.

Early life experiences, education, poverty, cardiovascular health, social connections, and healthy lifestyles all influence how well the brain ages.

“There is a subset of people who survive beyond the estimated life expectancy in Kenya. This survivor bias is stronger in people exposed to poverty,” the report also revealed. Those who survive poverty show a uniquely resilient brain structure.

It also showed that cardiovascular health protects the brain.

“Higher blood sugar levels were associated with a greater likelihood of memory and thinking problems, while higher levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL) were linked to healthier brain aging. Managing diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, and maintaining physical activity may help preserve brain health,” the Brain Resilience Kenya (BRK) report said.

According to the study's findings, a strong sense of safety throughout life, higher education, social connectedness, flourishing, and good sleep quality were associated with better cognitive outcomes and greater resilience in later life.

According to the report, healthy brain ageing and resilience are shaped not by a single event or diagnosis but by experiences accumulated throughout life.

It recommends investing in good nutrition, quality education, heart health, supportive relationships and safe communities, which can help more people maintain cognitive health and resilience as they grow older.

Speaking during the dissemination workshop supported by Dartmouth University, Prof. Zul Merali, Founding Director of the Brain & Mind Institute at Aga Khan University, said the study highlights that resilience is not something we are simply born with.

“It can be nurtured by families, strengthened by communities, supported by health systems and encouraged through public policy. Understanding the factors that help people adapt, recover, and thrive despite life's challenges creates healthier communities and better opportunities for healthy brain ageing," said Professor Zul Merali, Founding Director of the Brain and Mind Institute.

The study also examined the relationship between cancer, its treatment and brain health. The findings provide new insights into how cognitive health is influenced not only by disease, but also by the broader biological, psychological, social and environmental factors that shape resilience throughout life.

“Family caregivers of people living with cancer showed signs of greater physical stress, including changes in inflammation and cholesterol levels, highlighting the need for emotional, social, and practical support for caregivers,” the report said.

Prof. Saleh said the findings underscore the importance of adopting a holistic approach to cancer care.

He added that alongside treating cancer, “we must support patients' overall wellbeing by promoting heart health, mental wellbeing and strong social support to help improve quality of life and healthy ageing."

"Advanced brain imaging and cognitive assessments gave us valuable insights into how the brain responds to life's challenges and what supports healthy brain ageing and resilience,” said Dr. Karen Blackmon, Consultant Neuropsychologist, Brain and Mind Institute and Co-Principal Investigator of the Brain Resilience Kenya Study.

The study showed that resilience is shaped by both biology and environment, “providing important evidence to guide future interventions that promote cognitive health," said Dr. Karen Blackmon.

Researchers combined advanced brain imaging, community engagement, comprehensive cognitive assessments, and blood-based biomarkers to better understand why some individuals maintain healthy brain function despite experiencing significant life challenges, while also identifying practical ways individuals and communities can protect brain health throughout life.

“The brain changes naturally with age, but healthy living can slow decline,” the report states.

According to the researchers, brain imaging showed expected age-related changes in brain structure. However, they note that maintaining good vascular health may help reduce the impact of aging on the brain, regardless of early life disadvantages.