Increased Brain Age Gap Estimate (BrainAGE) in Young Adults After Premature Birth

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests increased metabolic and physiologic aging rates in premature-born adults. While the lasting consequences of premature birth on human brain development are known, its impact on brain aging remains unclear. We addressed the question of whether premature birth impacts brain age gap estimates (BrainAGE) using an accurate and robust machine-learning framework based on structural MRI in a large cohort of young premature-born adults (n = 101) and full-term (FT) controls (n = 111). Study participants are part of a geographically defined population study of premature-born individuals, which have been followed longitudinally from birth until young adulthood. We investigated the association between BrainAGE scores and perinatal variables as well as with outcomes of physical (total intracranial volume, TIV) and cognitive development (full-scale IQ, FS-IQ). We found increased BrainAGE in premature-born adults [median (interquartile range) = 1.4 (−1.3–4.7 years)] compared to full-term controls (p = 0.002, Cohen’s d = 0.443), which was associated with low Gestational age (GA), low birth weight (BW), and increased neonatal treatment intensity but not with TIV or FS-IQ. In conclusion, results demonstrate elevated BrainAGE in premature-born adults, suggesting an increased risk for accelerated brain aging in human prematurity.

Linking Brain Age Gap to Mental and Physical Health in the Berlin Aging Study II

“…Several associations may even be speculated to be reversed in childhood and adolescence, where lower relative brain age could reflect delayed brain maturation and may therefore be associated with lower cognitive performance metrics. The number of brain age studies in younger cohorts is just increasing (Brouwer et al, 2020;Hong et al, 2020;Ball et al, 2021;Cropley et al, 2021;Hedderich et al, 2021), so that more evidence is to be expected in the upcoming years. Along this way, other biological aging indicators such as telomere length and DNA methylation status may additionally advance our understanding of aging processes and could aid to identify individuals that would benefit from interventions (Henje Blom et al, 2015;Vetter et al, 2019;Marini et al, 2020).…”

Alzheimer resemblance atrophy index, BrainAGE, and normal pressure hydrocephalus score in the prediction of subtle cognitive decline: added value compared to existing MR imaging markers

“…smoking [ 48 ]), genotypic variations (e.g. APOE status) [ 46 ], or early neurodevelopmental influences such as preterm birth [ 49 ] that cannot be taken into account given the limited sample of this study. Despite these differences, the present findings imply that the BrainAGE score remains a useful predictor of longitudinal changes in executive functions during the very early stages of the aging process.…”

A feasibility randomized controlled trial of a NICU rehabilitation program for very low birth weight infants

“…Multiple studies demonstrate changes in brain volume, white matter development, cortical folding and measures of connectivity in infants born preterm 8 – 10 . Recent evidence also suggest that preterm birth may impact cognitive reserve and brain aging 11 , 12 . The NICU can be characterized as a toxic environment with excess exposure to inflammation, hypoxia–ischemia, pain, stress, noise, light, as well as deprivation in meaningful social interaction and language, comforting touch and sleep.…”