AI identifies genes and drugs to slow brain aging

Scientists from China have developed a strong AI tool that analyzes brain scans to understand why some brains age faster than others. Their research focused on finding genes linked to brain aging and related disorders, studying nearly 39,000 individuals. The team identified seven specific genes that play a role in cognitive decline. They also discovered 28 existing drugs that target these genes, including hydrocortisone, a common medication for allergies. Using these drugs could be a faster way to address age-related brain issues than creating new ones, although they still need thorough testing. To measure brain health, researchers use something called biological age, which may differ from a person's chronological age. Various methods, like the Horvath Clock, can assess this. Scientists believe that the difference, or brain age gap, can indicate how quickly one’s brain is aging. Individual differences in brain aging seem to arise from genetics, lifestyle, environment, and chronic health issues. Although researchers hope that understanding these genes could lead to drugs that slow down or even reverse aging, more studies are necessary. The research utilized the UK Biobank, which has extensive health data from half a million people. After analyzing MRI scans from around 39,000 participants, they assessed various AI models. One model, known as 3D-ViT, proved particularly effective in identifying structural brain differences associated with aging.