Researchers from Chile and the United States revealed on Sunday (April 5, 2026) that environmental and social factors are just as influential as lifestyle in determining the rate of brain aging. They confirmed that pollution, poverty, and inadequate services can accelerate brain deterioration, while social justice and healthcare contribute to slowing this process.
The study relied on data from 18,701 individuals across 34 countries. Researchers examined what is known as the "exosome," which is the sum of environmental, social, and political influences a person experiences throughout their life. The results showed that these factors do not operate in isolation but interact, leading to a multiplied impact on brain health when they occur simultaneously.
The researchers measured 73 factors, including air pollution, climate change, water quality, green spaces, as well as indicators of poverty, inequality, and political stability. They found that the combined effect of these factors can explain differences in brain aging up to 15 times greater than that of any single factor.
The study revealed that "physical environmental factors, such as pollution and rising temperatures, are linked to changes in brain structure, particularly in areas related to memory and emotional regulation, as a result of biological processes like oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Conversely, social factors, such as poverty and chronic stress, significantly impact brain functions related to thinking and behavior, and their effects may even extend beyond some neurological diseases."
The researchers emphasized that "these findings apply to both healthy individuals and those with neurological conditions," stressing that "focusing solely on individual behaviors, such as diet and exercise, is insufficient to mitigate the risks of brain aging."
The study called for the adoption of comprehensive policies to improve the living environment, including reducing pollution, increasing green spaces, improving water quality, and promoting social justice. It affirmed that protecting brain health requires an integration of environmental and social policies, along with support for institutional stability and community participation.
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