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Crow's Feet: Early Sign of Dementia?
1 Jan
Summary
- Appearing older than chronological age raises dementia risk by over 60%.
- Pronounced crow's feet doubled the odds of cognitive impairment.
- Facial aging may signal systemic inflammation linked to brain health.
Recent studies indicate a potential link between facial aging and an increased risk of dementia. Individuals who appear older than their chronological age face a significantly higher likelihood of developing dementia over a 12-year period, even when accounting for lifestyle and health factors.
Further investigation focused on wrinkles around the eyes, known as crow's feet. Findings revealed that those with more prominent crow's feet had more than double the odds of experiencing measurable cognitive impairment. This suggests that visible signs of aging on the face may reflect underlying biological processes related to brain health.
Researchers propose that facial aging, including wrinkles, could act as a biomarker for systemic biological age and susceptibility to age-related conditions. This visible aging may be a sign of common pathogenic mechanisms, such as chronic inflammation, which are implicated in both physical aging and neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.
