Marseglia Anna, Dartora Caroline, Samuelsson Jessica, Poulakis Konstantinos, Mohanty Rosaleena, Shams Sara, Lindberg Olof, Rydén Lina, Sterner Therese Rydberg, Skoog Johan, Zettergren Anna, Kern Silke, Skoog Ingmar, Westman Eric
Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health (AGECAP), University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.
Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Feb;21(2):e14435. doi: 10.1002/alz.14435. Epub 2024 Dec 20.
This study investigated the associations of brain age gap (BAG)-a biological marker of brain resilience-with life exposures, neuroimaging measures, biological processes, and cognitive function.
We derived BAG by subtracting predicted brain age from chronological age in 739 septuagenarians without dementia or neurological disorders. Robust linear regression models assessed BAG associations with life exposures, plasma inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neurodegeneration and vascular brain injury, and cognitive performance.
Greater BAG (older-looking brains) was associated with physical inactivity, diabetes, and stroke, while prediabetes was related to lower BAG, that is, younger-looking brains. Physical activity mitigated the link between obesity and BAG. Greater BAG was associated with greater small vessel disease burden, white-matter alterations, inflammation, high glucose, poorer vascular-related cognitive domains. Sex-specific associations were identified.
Vascular-related lifestyles and health shape brain appearance. Inflammation and insulin-related processes may be keys to understanding vascular cognitive disorders.
BAG, reflecting deviations from CA, can indicate resilience. Diabetes, stroke, and low physical activity link to "older" brains (greater BAG). Physical activity yielded to "younger" brains in septuagenarians with obesity. High cerebrovascular burden, inflammation, and glucose associate with "older" brains. Sex differences were detected in all BAG-associated factors.
本研究调查了脑龄差距（BAG）——一种脑弹性的生物学标志物——与生活暴露、神经影像学测量、生物学过程和认知功能之间的关联。
我们通过从739名无痴呆或神经系统疾病的七十多岁老人的实际年龄中减去预测脑龄来得出BAG。稳健线性回归模型评估了BAG与生活暴露、血浆炎症和代谢生物标志物、磁共振成像以及神经退行性变和血管性脑损伤的脑脊液生物标志物以及认知表现之间的关联。
更大的BAG（看起来脑龄更大）与身体活动不足、糖尿病和中风有关，而糖尿病前期与较低的BAG相关，即看起来脑龄更年轻。身体活动减轻了肥胖与BAG之间的联系。更大的BAG与更大的小血管疾病负担、白质改变、炎症、高血糖以及较差的血管相关认知领域有关。还确定了性别特异性关联。
与血管相关的生活方式和健康状况塑造了脑外观。炎症和胰岛素相关过程可能是理解血管性认知障碍的关键。
反映与实际年龄偏差的BAG可以表明弹性。糖尿病、中风和低身体活动与“更老”的脑（更大的BAG）相关。在肥胖的七十多岁老人中，身体活动使脑看起来“更年轻”。高脑血管负担、炎症和血糖与“更老”的脑相关。在所有与BAG相关的因素中都检测到了性别差异。
