Epigenetic age is associated with regional brain aging along the sensorimotor-to-association axis of cortical organization.

Nicholas Riccardi, Carolyn Banister, Natalie Busby, Sarah Newman-Norlund, Roger Newman-Norlund, Ida Rangus, Alex Teghipco, Chris Roden, Julius Fridriksson, Leonardo Bonilha

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States. Electronic address: [email protected] of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States. Electronic address: [email protected]. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Brain age and epigenetic age (DNAmAge) are 'biological clocks' independently linked to health outcomes. However, the relationship between brain and epigenetic age remains unclear. We used path analysis to investigate relationships between chronological age, DNAmAge, and brain age and explored whether advanced aging in specific brain regions relates to DNAmAge. BrainAge (global and regional) was estimated from brain MRI in 149 participants (ages 20-80). From whole blood, four DNAmAges were calculated: Pheno, Hannum, Horvath, and SkinBlood. Mediation was used to test the indirect effect of DNAmAge on global BrainAge, as well as the reverse, with chronological age as the independent variable. Correlations between accelerated region-specific BrainAge and DNAmAge were also examined. DNAmPhenoAge mediated the relationship between chronological age and global BrainAge. DNAmPhenoAge was related to advanced BrainAge of regions higher on the sensorimotor-to-association axis of cortical organization (F(1104) = 17.5, R

The following analysis is generated by AI and may contain errors. It is separate from the authors’ abstract and is not peer review.

Research summary

The paper claims that DNAmPhenoAge mediates the relationship between chronological age and global BrainAge, with implications for understanding brain aging. This research explores the relationship between biological aging markers and brain aging, contributing to the understanding of aging mechanisms rather than merely addressing age-related diseases.

Author of this paper? Send a correction.