Scientists from the US have named the specific age at which brain activity deteriorates

Brain cell degeneration becomes noticeable as early as 44 years
Instead of waiting for cognitive symptoms, which may not appear until significant damage has been done, scientists can potentially identify people at risk using neurometabolic markers and help them.

Researchers from Stony Brook University (New York) have identified a specific point in middle age when our brain cells show the first signs of degradation, reports ScienceAlert.

Based on brain scans and tests covering 19,300 people, it was determined that on average, brain cell degeneration begins to become noticeable at 44 years old. This process reaches its highest speed at 67 years old and by 90 years the rate of brain aging decreases.

The team was also able to identify a potential cause of this disorder – neuronal insulin resistance. The findings suggest that as we age, our brains become less sensitive to insulin, meaning less glucose is used as energy – and this starts to disrupt brain signals. It follows that replacing or restoring the energy sources for neurons could help slow brain aging.

The researchers tested the hypothesis on a group of 101 people who were given ketone supplements, which increase the sensitivity of brain cells to insulin and inhibit metabolic damage.

Brain degeneration stabilized after taking ketone supplements, with the greatest benefits seen in middle-aged people (40 to 59 years old). The researchers believe that this type of treatment can work, but the timing of treatment is crucial.

The study was published in the American scientific journal PNAS.