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Ageing is an inevitable part of life, but why do some people appear to age more slowly than others? Whilst genetics account for roughly a quarter of the variation in lifespan, it is lifestyle and environment that play the most significant role. From diet and exercise to sleep and stress, our daily choices shape not just how long we live, but how well we age.
Now, groundbreaking research published in Nature Aging suggests that a simple brain scan taken in midlife could predict not only how quickly the brain is ageing, but also provide insight into the biological ageing of the entire body. This discovery has the potential to transform how we identify individuals at risk of age – related conditions, including dementia, decades before symptoms appear.
Biological vs Chronological Age
When we talk about age, we typically think in terms of chronology – the number of years since birth. But doctors and scientists are increasingly interested in biological age, which reflects how old our cells, tissues and organs truly are. Biological age can diverge significantly from chronological age, meaning someone in their forties may have the cellular health of a much younger – or older – person.
Tracking biological age has long been a challenge. Traditional methods include monitoring health markers such as blood pressure, cholesterol and lung function, or more recently, epigenetic clocks based on gene methylation. However, these approaches can be invasive, complex or inconsistent. The appeal of a non – invasive, widely available tool has driven scientists to explore brain imaging as a potential solution.
The DunedinPACNI Breakthrough
Researchers from Duke, Harvard and the University of Otago in New Zealand have developed a novel MRI – based biomarker called the Dunedin Pace of Aging Calculated from NeuroImaging (DunedinPACNI).
The team built on the Dunedin Study, a unique longitudinal project tracking more than 1,000 individuals born in Dunedin, New Zealand in the early 1970s. Over nearly five decades, participants have undergone regular assessments of their health, lifestyle and cognitive function. Using this rich dataset, scientists were able to correlate patterns of biological ageing with MRI scans taken at age 45.
The DunedinPACNI was then tested against large datasets, including the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and UK Biobank. Remarkably, it proved as accurate as established epigenetic clocks in predicting biological ageing, but with the added benefit of being non – invasive and based on a single brain scan.
What the Scan Reveals
The study found that people with higher DunedinPACNI scores – indicating faster brain ageing – also showed signs of accelerated ageing throughout the body. These included:
- Slower gait and poorer balance
- Reduced muscle strength and coordination
- Lower performance on cognitive tests
- Greater decline in cognitive ability from childhood to adulthood
- Older physical appearance
- Higher likelihood of cardiovascular and respiratory health issues
This suggests that the brain may act as a mirror of systemic ageing, reflecting the condition of other vital organ systems.
Expert Insight: Dr Emer MacSweeney
Commenting on the research for Medical News Today, Dr Emer MacSweeney, Consultant Neuroradiologist and CEO of Re:Cognition Health, highlighted the importance of these findings:
“The researchers observed that individuals with higher DunedinPACNI scores, indicating faster brain ageing, were also more likely to experience health deterioration in other organ systems, such as cardiovascular and respiratory health. The fact that brain imaging can reflect systemic aging suggests the brain may serve as a biomarker for overall biological age, offering a non – invasive, accessible measure of aging processes throughout the body.”
This discovery strengthens the argument for using brain imaging not only as a diagnostic tool for disease, but also as a predictive tool for ageing, helping clinicians and individuals identify risks long before symptoms appear.
Why This Matters
As life expectancy continues to rise, many people are living longer but not necessarily healthier lives. Age – related conditions such as dementia, frailty and cardiovascular disease place enormous strain on individuals, families and healthcare systems.
Identifying accelerated ageing in midlife provides a critical window of opportunity for intervention. By highlighting biological risk decades in advance, tools like the DunedinPACNI could empower people to take proactive steps – adopting healthier habits that may delay or even prevent disease.
Dr MacSweeney explains:
“Knowing one’s biological age, as distinct from chronological age, could motivate individuals to adopt healthier habits, such as improved diet, increased physical activity or better sleep. By highlighting risk decades in advance, the tool empowers people to take proactive steps that may slow or even reverse aspects of biological ageing.”
Lifestyle Still Matters Most
While the science of brain-based biomarkers is advancing rapidly, it is important to remember that no tool can override the fundamental influence of lifestyle. Decades of research confirm that the choices we make every day – what we eat, how often we exercise, how well we sleep and whether we avoid smoking or excess alcohol – have the most profound impact on how quickly we age.
The exciting potential of the DunedinPACNI lies in its ability to provide measurable feedback. Just as regular health check-ups can encourage people to maintain good habits, a brain scan indicating accelerated ageing may act as a powerful motivator to adopt positive lifestyle changes.
What’s Next?
Although the findings are compelling, researchers stress that DunedinPACNI is still in its early stages. The model was developed using data from a relatively homogenous population, so further testing across more diverse groups is essential. Its effectiveness in younger or older populations also remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, this study marks a significant step forward in the field of ageing research. The prospect of using routine MRI scans to evaluate biological ageing could one day become part of standard health assessments, helping people plan not just for longer lives, but for healthier ones.
To read the article on Medical News Today, please visit: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/could-a-single-brain-scan-predict-the-risk-of-age-related-conditions-like-dementia
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