Suffering from mid-life brain fog? It could be due to living it up in your 20s, as study suggests stress, smoking and lack of exercise in youth leads to 'reduced cognitive function' after 40 READ MORE: Scientists pinpoint the diet that can 'keep mind sharp into 70s' By Emily Stearn, Health Reporter For Mailonline Published: 21:00, 3 July 2024 | Updated: 21:00, 3 July 2024 e-mail View comments It's dubbed the golden decade, when you're meant to be most carefree and at your happiest. But being unhealthy in your 20s really could be detrimental to your health years later, US scientists have warned. Researchers found young adults who smoked, experienced higher levels of stress and rarely exercised were twice as likely to have poor cognitive performance by the time they hit their 40s.
While some poor cognitive performance is expected with advanced age it can also be precursor to far more serious conditions like dementia. Dr Kristine Yaffe, an expert in dementia and cognitive ageing at the University of California San Francisco, said: 'Inflammation plays a significant role in cognitive aging and may begin in early adulthood. Making the most of your 20s really could be detrimental to your health, US scientists warned today.
Researchers found young adults who smoked, experienced higher levels of stress and rarely exercised were twice as likely to have poor cognitive performance by the time they hit their 40s 'There is likely a direct and indirect effect of inflammation on cognition. '.
