Brain age acceleration

Biomarker2 papers5 findings

A human study links brain age acceleration to obesity and a polygenic risk score in men, while weight management is associated with lower risk in men. A human preprint in people with multiple sclerosis links new lesion formation and radiological activity to greater brain age acceleration over eight years.

Humans2

Upstream

Obesity

upin humans1OR 1.9

1 study

Obesity increases brain age acceleration in humans (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.64-2.21).
Humans16-yearmalesn = 16,484
Joint Effects of Long-Term Obesity and Genetic Susceptibility on Sex-Specific Brain Aging · Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) · 6 Sep 2026

Obesity →

Polygenic risk score

upin humans1OR 1.39

1 study

Polygenic risk score increases brain age acceleration in humans (OR = 1.39).
Humansmalesn = 16,484
Joint Effects of Long-Term Obesity and Genetic Susceptibility on Sex-Specific Brain Aging · Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) · 6 Sep 2026

Polygenic risk score →

Associations

Weight management

downin humans1−30%

1 study

Weight management lowers the risk of brain age acceleration in humans (-30%).
Humans16-yearmalesn = 16,484
Joint Effects of Long-Term Obesity and Genetic Susceptibility on Sex-Specific Brain Aging · Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) · 6 Sep 2026

Weight management →

New lesion formation

upin humans1

1 study

New lesion formation is associated with brain age acceleration in humans (beta = +0.18).
Humansin people with multiple sclerosis8 yearsn = 163
New lesion formation is associated with accelerated brain aging in multiple sclerosis · medRxiv · 31 Aug 2026 · Preprint

Radiological activity

upin humans1

1 study

Radiological activity is associated with brain age acceleration in humans (+0.19 yr/yr, 95% CI: 0.03-0.37).
Humansin people with multiple sclerosis8 yearsn = 163
New lesion formation is associated with accelerated brain aging in multiple sclerosis · medRxiv · 31 Aug 2026 · Preprint