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People with worse cardiovascular disease and increased cerebrovascular disease at the age of 36 have a higher brain age later in life, according to new research.
People’s brain ages were estimated using MRI scans and machine learning in order to identify risk factors for a prematurely ageing brain. The findings were published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.
The study used an MRI-based machine learning model
To do this, a team led by UCL researchers applied an established MRI-based machine learning model to members of the Alzheimer’s Research UK-funded Insight 46 study.
The participants had been party of the study throughout their lives, so the researchers were able to compare their current brain ages to various factors from across the life course.
The participants were all between 69 and 72 years old, but their estimated brain ages ranged from 46 to 93.
Tool could be used to identify people at risk of accelerated ageing
They found that a higher brain age was associated with: worse cardiovascular health, increased cerebrovascular disease, slightly worse scores on cognitive tests and higher concentration of neurofilament light protein (NfL) in the blood.
Slightly worse scores on cognitive tests also predicted increased brain shrinkage (atrophy) over the following two years. This could therefore be an important clinical marker for people at risk of cognitive decline or other brain-related ill health.
Lead author Professor Jonathan Schott (UCL Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL) said: “We found that despite people in this study all being of very similar real ages, there was a very wide variation in how old the computer model predicted their brains to be.
“We hope this technique could one day be a useful tool for identifying people at risk of accelerated ageing, so that they may be offered early, targeted prevention strategies to improve their brain health.”
A range of factors influence people’s brain health throughout their life
The study was supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the Medical Research Council Dementia Platforms UK, Selfridges Group Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, Wellcome, Brain Research UK, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Dr Sara Imarisio, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the study has helped to reveal more about the “complex relationship between the different factors influencing people’s brain health throughout their life.”
“Using machine learning, researchers in this study have uncovered yet more evidence that poorer heart health in midlife is linked to greater brain shrinkage in later life.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the dedicated group of individuals who have contributed to research their entire lives making this work possible,” she said.