Nairobi – A recent study from the Aga Khan University Brain and Mind Institute (AKU‑BMI) suggests that poverty exerts a greater influence on healthy brain ageing than a cancer diagnosis, underscoring the role of socio‑economic conditions in long‑term cognitive health.
The three‑year Brain Resilience Kenya (BRK) study followed 404 adults aged 35 and older, examining how a range of biological, psychological, social and environmental factors influence healthy ageing and the risk of frailty and dementia.
Using neuroimaging, cognitive testing, blood‑based biomarkers, and community engagement, investigators sought to understand why certain individuals preserve robust brain function in the face of adversity and to identify factors that foster resilience.
Findings reveal that life‑long experiences—such as early life conditions, educational attainment, cardiovascular health, social support, and economic well‑being—are pivotal in shaping brain health in later years.
The results were shared at a community dissemination workshop and health fair, hosted with support from Dartmouth University, bringing together study participants, community health promoters and researchers.
Professor Zul Merali, Founding Director of the Brain and Mind Institute at Aga Khan University, noted that the study shifts attention beyond disease toward the broader determinants that enable lifelong mental health.
He added that resilience is not an innate trait; it can be cultivated by families, bolstered by communities, reinforced by health systems, and promoted through public policy.
The research also examined how cancer and its treatment affect cognitive health.
The study found that individuals with cancer displayed higher brain resilience than their caregivers, indicating that social support and wider life circumstances play a key role in cognitive outcomes.
Professor Mansoor Saleh, Co‑Principal Tog Investigator and Director of the Cancer Centre at Aga Khan University Hospital, emphasized that cancer care should adopt a holistic approach that addresses patients’ overall well‑being.
He added that, alongside curative treatment, supporting patients’ cardiovascular health, mental well‑being, and robust social networks is essential to enhance quality of life and healthy aging.
Co‑Principal Investigator Dr. Karen Blackmon observed that integrating advanced neuroimaging with participants’ personal experiences offers a fuller understanding of how resilience develops.
We conclude that healthy brain ageing is molded by cumulative life experiences rather than isolated illnesses or events.
Investing in nutrition, education, cardiovascular health, supportive relationships, and safer communities can help more people maintain cognitive health as they age.
