Poster No:
1241
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Amber Boots1, Aline Marileen Wiegersma2, Christian Gaser3, Tessa Roseboom2, Susanne de Rooij2
Institutions:
1Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, NA, 2Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 3Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Environmental exposures during critical periods of early human development have been associated with late-life brain structure and function. It is currently unknown whether these long-term effects represent persistent developmental effects or signal ongoing processes of accelerated brain aging. In the current study, we aimed to investigate longitudinal changes in neuroanatomical brain aging between ages 68 and 74 in men and women exposed or unexposed to the Dutch famine in early gestation.
Methods:
We performed a longitudinal follow-up magnetic resonance imaging study in the Dutch famine birth cohort at ages 68 (N = 118) and 74 (N = 81). Brain Age Gap Estimation (BrainAGE), a neuroimaging-based biomarker for neuroanatomical brain aging, was determined for all participants using a longitudinal machine-learning approach. Pace of aging was calculated by taking the difference between BrainAGE scores at age 68 and 74. Additionally, we associated BrainAGE scores to self-reported cognitive problems at age 74.
Results:
Men and women exposed to famine in early gestation had higher BrainAGE scores at age 74, similar to the results observed at age 68 (Fig. 1). This was strongest in exposed men. Pace of aging between time points is currently being investigated. Individuals with higher BrainAGE scores had higher odds of reporting cognitive problems at age 74. This association was mostly driven by individuals exposed to famine in early gestation.

·Fig. 1. Regional gray matter BrainAGE scores according to prenatal exposre to famine.
Conclusions:
The higher BrainAGE scores among those exposed to famine in early gestation at both ages 68 and 74 indicate that the neuroanatomical correlates of adverse prenatal exposures can be identified consistently throughout late life. In addition, this study revealed a clear association between BrainAGE and self-reported cognitive problems, underlining the strength of BrainAGE as a biomarker of brain aging and cognitive decline.
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Neurodegenerative/ Late Life (eg. Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s)
Lifespan Development:
Aging 2
Early life, Adolescence, Aging 1
Keywords:
Aging
Machine Learning
MRI
STRUCTURAL MRI
Other - BrainAGE
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