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Study Reveals Link Between Mental Disorders and Accelerated Brain Aging
New findings published in PLOS Medicine suggest that individuals with conditions such as dementia, mild cognitive impairment, alcoholism, and schizophrenia may exhibit accelerated aging in the brain. Led by Shile Qi from Nanjing Aeronautics and Astronautics University in China, the study explores how various brain disorders impact the aging process throughout the brain.
Using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 45,900 controls and 2,698 individuals with different conditions ranging from ADHD to Alzheimer’s disease, researchers discovered that Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment demonstrated the strongest association with higher predicted age differences (PAD), indicating accelerated brain aging. Addiction and psychiatric disorders also displayed increased PAD values, while no significant differences were found in those with ADHD or ASD.
The study identified unique patterns of accelerated aging in different brain regions. For example, psychiatric illnesses were linked to higher PAD in the prefrontal and temporal lobes, while addiction showed increased PAD in the default mode network, salience network, putamen, and thalamus.
Although the study did not establish causation between these conditions and accelerated brain aging, the researchers believe that further exploration of PAD could lead to the discovery of potential biomarkers associated with common brain diseases, shedding light on underlying biological processes and pathways. By pinpointing the distinct ways in which neurological disorders affect brain aging, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of these conditions.
Source: www.sciencedaily.com
