Five ways the brain can age: 50k scans reveal possible patterns of damage
A study of nearly 50,000 brain scans identified five brain atrophy patterns linked to aging and neurodegenerative diseases, predicting cognitive decline and correlating with lifestyle factors and health markers.
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A recent study analyzing nearly 50,000 brain scans has identified five distinct patterns of brain atrophy linked to aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Conducted over eight years, the research utilized a deep-learning algorithm to analyze MRI data from both healthy individuals and those experiencing cognitive decline. The findings suggest that certain patterns of brain degeneration correlate with lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as genetic and biochemical markers of health. Notably, the study found that these patterns could predict the likelihood of future cognitive decline, with specific patterns being more indicative of conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The research highlights the complex interplay between brain anatomy changes and overall health, emphasizing that while the study identifies key patterns, it does not oversimplify the aging process into just five categories. The authors aim to expand their research to include a wider range of neurological conditions and a more diverse population.
- Five patterns of brain atrophy linked to aging and neurodegenerative diseases were identified.
- The study utilized deep-learning algorithms to analyze MRI data from a large sample size.
- Lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption were associated with specific patterns of brain degeneration.
- Certain patterns were predictive of future cognitive decline and linked to conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's.
- The research aims to broaden its scope to include more diverse neurological conditions and populations.
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1 commentsDoes anybody have a sense of what these five models are?
The research itself is not open access so I wasn’t able to actually read it.
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