Medical insurance news - Brain function on the decline from 45 years of age

A recent study has suggested that the brain's ability to function to its full capability could start to decline as early as the age of 45.

The study published in the British Medical Journal found that there is a 3.6 per cent decline in mental reasoning in women and men aged between 45 and 49.

Researchers from University College London assessed the memory, vocabulary and comprehension skills of over 7,000 men and women aged between 45 and 70 over a span of more than ten years.

Previous research had suggested that cognitive decline did not begin until at least the age of 60 but these results demonstrate that it could be in middle age.

The experts suggest that this could be crucial as dementia treatments are more likely to show an effect at the time when individuals start to experience mental impairment rather than when it is too late.

Medical insurance customers taking part in the study were all UK civil servants from 1997 to 2007 and they were tested for memory, aural and visual comprehension skills. Differences in education were also taken into account.

The results of the research showed that cognitive scores declined in all categories except vocabulary, while the older health insurance subscribers showed a faster decline than younger patients.

It found that a 9.6 per cent decline in mental reasoning in men aged 65 to 70 could be seen, while a 7.4 per cent decline was shown in women of the same age.

Leader of the research Professor Archana Singh-Manoux from the Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in France said the evidence found in the study showed that dementia involved decades' worth of cognitive decline.

The professor added that further research needs to be undertaken to see who experiences cognitive decline more than the average and how it can be stopped. She also suggested that some level of prevention is “definitely possible”.

"Rates of dementia are going to soar and health behaviours like smoking and physical activity are linked to levels of cognitive function. It's important to identify the risk factors early. If the disease has started in an individual's 50s but we only start looking at risk in their 60s, then how do you start separating cause and effect?" she continued.

Research manager at the Alzheimer’s Society Dr Anne Corbett said the study added to the growing debate on when cognitive decline begins. She also suggested that the research doesn’t tell whether any of the medical insurance UK policyholders in the study actually develop dementia or not.

Dr Corbett said more research is required to help fully understand how measurable changes in the brain can help improve the diagnosis and treatment of dementia in the future.

Head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK Dr Simon Ridley suggested that he wanted to see similar studies carried out in a wider population sample.

"Previous research suggests that our health in mid-life affects our risk of dementia as we age, and these findings give us all an extra reason to stick to our New Year's resolutions,” he added.

Professor Lindsay Davies commented on the results by saying that people need to take action before their bodies and minds break down.

A new study was opened at the University College London in December, which aimed to try and prevent people suffering from dementia.

Dementia is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the UK and those affected often have to move into residential care. Around 750,000 people are affected by the disability.