the Connection Between Body and Brain

Researchers⁢ report that peopel who have more muscle​ and a lower visceral fat to muscle ratio tend⁣ to show signs of a younger biological brain age.This conclusion⁤ comes from a‍ study that will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological ​Society of North America⁣ (RSNA). Visceral fat refers ⁤to the fat stored deep in the abdomen around key internal organs.

“Healthier bodies with more ⁢muscle mass and less hidden belly fat are more likely to have healthier, youthful brains,” said senior study author Cyrus Raji, M.D., ⁣Ph.D., associate professor of radiology and neurology in the Department of Radiology at Mallinckrodt Institute of‍ Radiology ‌at Washington ‌University School of Medicine in ⁣St. Louis, Missouri. ⁢”Better brain health, in turn, lowers ‍the risk for future brain diseases, such ⁢as Alzheimer’s.”

How MRI Measures Brain Age and⁤ Body Composition

Brain age is an estimate of how old the brain appears biologically, based on its structure as seen through‌ MRI. Body MRI can track muscle mass, which serves as a marker⁢ for efforts to reduce frailty and strengthen overall health. Estimated brain age from structural scans may also shed light⁢ on risk factors for‍ Alzheimer’s disease, including‍ muscle loss.

“While it is commonly ⁣known that chronological aging translates to loss of muscle mass and increased hidden belly fat, this work shows that these ‌health measures relate to brain⁣ aging itself,” Dr. Raji said. “It shows muscle and fat mass quantified in the body are key reflectors of brain health, as tracked with brain aging.”

Study Details:​ Imaging, AI Analysis, and Participant Profile

The study evaluated 1,164 ‍healthy adults (52% women)‍ across four research⁤ sites using⁢ MRI scans. The average age of participants was 55.1 years ‍old, with a ‌range from 24 to 85 years old, according to‍ a press release from newswise. AI algorithms were employed to analyse ⁣the MRI data,‌ quantifying muscle mass, visceral fat, and estimating brain‌ age.

Key Findings and Data

The research revealed a statistically significant correlation between​ body composition and estimated brain age. Specifically,individuals with greater muscle mass​ and lower levels of visceral fat consistently ⁤exhibited a⁢ younger estimated brain ‌age compared to those with less muscle ‍and more visceral fat.

While the study did not establish a causal relationship, the findings strongly suggest that maintaining a ‍healthy body composition might potentially be a protective factor