An exciting new study published in Frontiers in Neurology sheds light on how brain health assessment tools can be effective in minimizing risks related to dementia. The study also affirmed that improving a set of 12 modifiable lifestyle behaviors can reduce the risk of developing brain-related diseases, like dementia and stroke.
The study was conducted by a powerful collaboration spanning leading research institutions and hospitals across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom with the goal of developing an effective tool to help people better understand how to take care of their brain health.
The researchers reviewed the effectiveness of the McCance Brain Care Score (BCS), a 21-point instrument that helps identify what individuals can do to protect their brain health with scientific validity. The personalized BCS is made up of three categories – Physical, Lifestyle and Social Emotional factors – and measures what an individual is already doing to protect and prolong their brain health. The behavioral factors that are measured by the score range from exercise to sleep, social interactions, blood pressure and more.
“The predictive validity of this 21-point instrument was assessed by determining the associations of Brain Care Scores with incident dementia and stroke among participants the UK Biobank (UKB). Looking at the BCS across nearly 400,000 UKB participants, we found that an individual’s BCS at baseline was strongly associated with their risk of dementia and stroke.”
Dr. Ronald Lazar PhD, FAHA, FAAN, Director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
In fact, the investigators found that over a median follow-up period of 12.5 years, among the 398,990 UKB participants age 40-69 years, those with a higher BCS had a lower risk of developing dementia or stroke with age. Specifically, a 5-point higher BCS at baseline was associated with a 59% lower risk of dementia among participants younger than age 50, a 32% lower risk among those aged 50-59, and an 8% lower risk for those older than age 59. The findings were comparable for stroke.
“The exciting takeaway is that this research shows that working to improve the lifestyle factors measured by the BCS will provide overall health benefits and can help reduce your risk for cognitive decline and dementia.”
Dr. Ronald Lazar, Director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Although various brain health scores are available and in use by researchers, Dr. Lazar’s program, the Brain Health Advocacy Mission (BHAM) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), uses the McCance Brain Care Score to measure the risk factors and lifestyle behaviors that impact an individual’s risk for cognitive decline and stroke. Launched in the winter of 2022, BHAM is a unique and individualized brain health program designed to help people maintain and improve their brain health now and in the future.
“At UAB, we were encouraged by these findings and determined the McCance Brain Care Score was the most appropriate brain health score to use in our BHAM initiative for the primary prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. Using the McCance Brain Care Score, we encourage and empower our BHAM participants to focus on the recommendations found in the American Heart Association’s Essential Eight for cardiovascular health, as well as many of the modifiable factors shown to reduce the risk of cancer. It’s true – what’s good for the heart and the rest of the body is also good for the brain.”
Dr. Ronald Lazar, Director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
The McCance Brain Care score is a tool you can use to measure and improve how well you take care of your brain throughout your life. Finding your individualized score allows you to establish a baseline and talk with your healthcare professional about ways to improve your score slowly and at your own pace. Like this exciting research shows, even small adjustments like moving more throughout the day or making regular calls to a friend can improve your brain health over time.
Check your Brain Care Score here and download your score worksheet as a starting point to talk to your healthcare professional about what you can do to take better care of your brain health.
