Scientists trained a computer to guess people’s ages from their brain scans.
A blood test could help track brain health by checking 13 proteins.
About 11,000 adults had brain scans studied by researchers from China.
The computer predicted their ages accurately within 2.7 years based on brain features.
A group of 4700 people also had their brain ages guessed by the computer.
These people gave blood samples, and researchers found 8 proteins linked to faster brain ageing and 5 linked to slower ageing.
The proteins are made by brain cells and may affect dementia and stroke risk.
These proteins could be used in blood tests to show how fast the brain is ageing.
Researchers want to see if lifestyle changes can alter these protein levels.
Further research on different populations is needed to confirm the results.
The researchers plan to study how these proteins impact the brain in animals.
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Vocabulary List:
- Dementia /dɪˈmen.ʃə/ (noun): A chronic or progressive disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury.
- Proteins /ˈproʊ.tiːnz/ (noun): Large molecules composed of amino acids essential for the structure function and regulation of the body’s cells.
- Ageing /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/ (verb/adjective): The process of growing old or showing the effects of increasing age.
- Scans /skænz/ (noun): A series of images or studies produced especially in medical contexts with imaging devices.
- Researchers /rɪˈsɜːr.tʃərz/ (noun): Individuals who conduct academic or scientific studies and inquiries to discover new information.
- Health /hɛlθ/ (noun): The state of being free from illness or injury; overall condition of a person’s body or mind.
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