Share This Article
Has anyone ever told you, “You don’t look your age!” While it’s usually a flattering compliment for us, it seems this is not just the case for our physical appearance. It turns out, our brains too can look older or younger, and artificial intelligence (AI) is helping us understand why.
In a recent study that bridges artificial intelligence and neuroscience, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have uncovered fascinating insights into brain aging.
The research suggests that the key to maintaining a youthful brain might lie in the health of our blood vessels.
Why brain age matters
With dementia affecting thousands of new patients each year in Sweden alone – over 20,000 to be precise, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for roughly two-thirds of cases – understanding brain aging has never been more crucial.
This new study offers practical insights into how we might maintain our cognitive health as we age.
The study’s innovative approach utilized artificial intelligence to analyze brain images from 739 cognitively healthy 70-year-olds, with women making up slightly more than half of the participant group.
The research team developed a sophisticated AI algorithm that could estimate the biological age of brains from MRI scans.
“The algorithm is both accurate and robust, yet easy to use,” explained Professor Eric Westman, the study’s principal investigator and professor of Neurogeriatrics at Karolinska Institutet.
He noted that while it’s currently a research tool requiring further evaluation, the experts hope to eventually implement it in clinical settings, particularly for dementia investigations.
