Key result
A 5-point higher Brain Care Score is linked to ~43% lower CVD risk and fewer cancers.
Why the study?
Because diseases outside the brain share modifiable risk factors with dementia, stroke, and late-life depression, investigators evaluated associations of the Brain Care Score with CVD and cancer.
Does a higher Brain Care Score at baseline associate with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer in adults?
Cohort (n=416,370)
Does a higher Brain Care Score at baseline associate with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer in adults?
Effect estimate: HR 0.57 for CVD; HR 0.69 for cancer (95% CI 0.55-0.59 for CVD; 0.66-0.72 for cancer)
A higher Brain Care Score is associated with a significantly lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and common cancers, suggesting its utility as a general tool for healthy aging.
BACKGROUND: The Brain Care Score (BCS) was developed in partnership with patients and practitioners to convey actionable knowledge to individuals everywhere that can motivate change in health-related behaviors and thereby reduce the risk of dementia, stroke, and late-life depression (LLD). Because diseases outside the brain share modifiable risk factors with dementia, stroke, and LLD, we investigated the associations of the BCS with other common age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. METHODS: Among all UK Biobank (UKB) participants with complete BCS data, we performed Cox proportional hazard regression analyses between the BCS at baseline and incident CVD (ischemic heart disease, stroke, and heart failure) and the three most common cancer types (lung, colorectal, and breast cancer), adjusted for sex and stratified by age. RESULTS: Among 416 370 UKB participants (mean age: 57 years; 54% female), 33 944 cases of CVD (8.8%) and 16 090 cases of cancer (4.0%) were identified over a median follow-up of 12.5 years. A 5-point higher BCS at baseline was associated with a lower incidence of CVD (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.57 [95% confidence interval {95% CI}: 0.55-0.59]) and lower incidence of the three most common cancer types (HR: 0.69 [95% CI: 0.66-0.72]). CONCLUSIONS: A higher BCS at baseline is associated with a lower incidence of CVD and three cancer types. Although developed specifically as an actionable tool to guide individuals in reducing their risk of common age-related brain diseases, we show that it may also offer ancillary benefits, providing a single place to start for guiding individuals toward improving their chances of healthy aging more generally.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Senff et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in General population (n=416,370). Brain Care Score (BCS) was evaluated on Incident cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, stroke, and heart failure) and the three most common cancer types (lung, colorectal, and breast) (HR 0.57 for CVD; HR 0.69 for cancer, 95% CI 0.55-0.59 for CVD; 0.66-0.72 for cancer). A 5-point higher Brain Care Score at baseline was associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.55-0.59) and common cancers (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.66-0.72).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: