Long-term studies that follow changes in the brain over many years are rare but valuable. Previous studies have mostly presented snapshots in time, which cannot show how individual brains change over the years. This study, which followed participants for up to 27 years (average 20 years), offers new insight into how health conditions may accelerate brain aging.
In a study, “Acceleration of Brain Atrophy and Progression from Normal Cognition to Mild Cognitive Impairment,” published in JAMA Network Open, researchers used the BIOCARD cohort to examine risk factors associated with acceleration of brain atrophy and progression from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
THEY WERE REVIEWED FOR 20 YEARS
BIOCARD was initiated at the National Institutes of Health in 1995 and continued at Johns Hopkins University from 2015 to 2023. A total of 185 participants were initially selected, with an average age of 55 years and all cognitively normal. For 20 years, brain scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests were performed, measuring changes in brain structures and levels of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The findings showed that higher rates of white matter shrinkage and enlargement of the brain’s ventricles (fluid-filled cavities) were significant predictors of earlier onset of cognitive impairment. Specifically, white matter atrophy was associated with an 86% higher risk and ventricular enlargement was associated with a 71% higher risk of progression to cognitive impairment.
THE RISK IS MORE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH DIABETES
It was observed that the risk of progression from normal cognition to impaired cognition in individuals with diabetes was on average 41% higher than in individuals without diabetes.
A low level of a substance found in cerebrospinal fluid has been associated with a 48% higher risk of developing cognitive impairment. This ratio serves as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, and an imbalance between these two forms of amyloid beta protein is linked to the formation of harmful plaques in the brain.
These results support the importance of early identification of individuals exhibiting accelerated brain atrophy and certain adverse biomarkers. By recognizing times when higher risk is present, preventive intervention strategies can be optimized to delay or prevent the onset of cognitive impairment.