Studies Indicate Association Between Facial Aging, Crow's Feet, and Increased Dementia Risk

Research has identified associations between facial aging, specifically the presence of crow's feet, and an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Two distinct investigations conducted by researchers in China explored these relationships.### Research MethodologyThe first investigation analyzed health data from over 195,000 participants aged 60 and older from the UK Biobank Study, observed over an average period of 12 years. Participants self-reported whether they were perceived as looking younger, older, or about their age.The second investigation involved approximately 600 older adults in China. Independent assessors evaluated photographs of participants to estimate their age. Additionally, specialized imaging was utilized to objectively count and measure facial wrinkles, particularly crow's feet around the eyes.### Key FindingsPerceived Age and Dementia Risk:* In the first study, individuals who reported being perceived as looking older than their chronological age exhibited a 61 percent higher risk of developing dementia compared to those perceived as looking younger, even after accounting for age, health, and lifestyle factors.* This association was more pronounced in specific subgroups: individuals with obesity, those with greater summer outdoor sun exposure, and persons with a higher genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease.* The elevated risk extended to different dementia types, with vascular dementia showing a 55 percent higher risk and unspecified dementia a 74 percent increased risk. The link to Alzheimer's disease was present but less strong.* Individuals perceived as older by others were more frequently smokers, male, physically inactive, and presented higher rates of depressive symptoms and other health conditions.* These individuals also demonstrated lower scores on cognitive function tests, including processing speed and executive function, and exhibited slower reaction times.Crow's Feet and Cognitive Impairment:* The second study found that for every year a person was judged to look older than their actual age by independent assessors, the odds of having measurable cognitive impairment increased by 10 percent.* Objective measurements of crow's feet wrinkles, specifically their total number and contrast (prominence), showed the strongest and most statistically significant association with cognitive impairment.* Measurements from other facial areas and general skin metrics like hydration and elasticity did not demonstrate as strong a correlation.### Proposed MechanismsThe research suggests that facial aging may serve as a visual indicator of an individual's systemic biological age and their susceptibility to age-related conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases. This concept is referred to as "Common Pathogenic Mechanisms."Pronounced crow's feet are proposed as a particularly sensitive biomarker due to their reflection of cumulative environmental damage, such as sun exposure. This damage is associated with systemic oxidative stress and inflammation, which are also implicated in brain aging processes. The appearance of advanced aging in the delicate skin around the eyes may also signal compromised system-wide repair mechanisms, including those essential for brain health.### ConclusionThe authors concluded that both subjective (perceived) and objective facial age could function as indicators in screening strategies. These indicators may aid in identifying and facilitating early intervention for older adults at risk of cognitive decline or dementia. The findings suggest that visible facial aging might signify an underlying systemic inflammatory process that contributes to neuronal damage and accelerates brain aging.