Inequality Speeds Up Brain Aging, According to Global Study

New reserach found that countries with higher levels of inequality—whether in terms of economy, pollution, or disease—showed signs of accelerated brain aging. The rate of brain aging differs widely from person to person, creating a discrepancy between the brain’s biological age and the chronological age (the actual years a person has lived). Various factors, including environmental influences like pollution and social elements such as income or health disparities, particularly impact older individuals and those with dementia. Until now, it was not well understood how these factors collectively might hasten or slow down the aging process of the brain among different populations globally.