Researchers used AI to analyze brain images from 70-year-olds, estimating their biological brain age and uncovering connections to lifestyle and health factors. Diabetes, inflammation, and high glucose levels were linked to older-looking brains, while regular exercise and healthy habits were associated with younger-looking brains. The study highlights the importance of maintaining vascular health to protect cognitive resilience against aging.
A recent study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association has used AI to analyze brain images from 70-year-olds and estimated their biological brain age. The researchers found that factors detrimental to vascular health, such as inflammation and high glucose levels, are associated with an older-looking brain, while healthy lifestyles were linked to brains with a younger appearance.
The study involved 739 cognitively healthy 70-year-olds, who underwent MRI scans of their brains and provided blood samples for measuring lipids, glucose, and inflammation. The researchers also conducted cognitive testing and collected data on lifestyle factors such as exercise and medical conditions.
The results showed that diabetes, stroke, cerebral small vessel disease, and inflammation were linked to brains with an older appearance, whereas a healthy lifestyle involving regular exercise was associated with brains of a younger appearance. This suggests that maintaining vascular health is crucial in protecting cognitive resilience against aging.
The study’s lead author, Anna Marseglia, noted that “factors that adversely affect the blood vessels can also be related to older-looking brains, which shows how important it is to keep your blood vessels healthy.” The researchers plan to explore sex differences and social health influences on brain resilience in future studies.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/ai-vascular-brain-aging-28280