[100-Year Brain Health] Is Your Brain Healthy?

Elderly Dementia Prevalence Exceeds 10%
Diet and Exercise Slow Brain Aging

By 2025, Korea will enter a 'super-aged society' where the population aged 65 and over exceeds 20%. The prevalence of dementia among the elderly will surpass 10%, meaning that out of 10 million elderly people, 1 million will suffer from dementia. Already, 3 out of 10 elderly people aged 85 and above have dementia. Although the average lifespan has increased, as the saying goes, "the era of living to 100," the more important issue has become not "how long we live" but "how healthily we live."

Through numerous studies, we have learned that the human brain affects not only speech and behavior but also physical and motor abilities, learning or work performance, habits, and all aspects of daily life. The brain is also involved in an individual's personality, identity, and emotions. The state of brain health is directly linked to quality of life.

However, as we age, the brain gradually ages as well. Among the brain diseases that occur during this process, dementia is the most representative. Dementia refers to a condition where a normally matured brain is damaged or destroyed due to acquired diseases or trauma, resulting in decreased intellectual abilities. Common symptoms include memory loss, impaired judgment, reduced sense of direction, and sleep disorders.

The exact cause of dementia is unclear. There is still no definitive cure. Dementia worsens from the early stages and typically requires treatment over about ten years until death from old age or other diseases. Along with the economic costs of treatment and care, the psychological burden and sacrifices of family members inevitably follow.

Currently, the best approach is to detect brain abnormalities as early as possible and manage the condition to maintain daily life for as long as possible by using medication or training to prevent mild cognitive impairment from progressing to dementia. It is also important to strive to maintain a healthy brain state before brain aging fully sets in.

James Goodwin, a professor of aging physiology at Loughborough University in the UK, emphasized in his book The Neuroscience of Health that "brain aging can be reversed and slowed down through dietary changes and relatively simple exercises," and that brain health can be maintained through regular exercise and active social engagement.

As brain health is the most important requirement for a happy 100-year life, Asia Economy will run a 10-part campaign-style series titled "The 100-Year Era, Protecting Brain Health."