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Accelerated Brain Aging in Young Women with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Yoonji Joo1, Sujung Yoon1,2, Hyeonseok Jeong1
1Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea.
Experimental Neurobiology
|March 27, 2026
Summary
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) accelerates brain aging in young women, with a notable increase in brain age gap. Cognitive and mood symptoms are particularly linked to this accelerated aging process.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to brain alterations suggesting accelerated brain aging.
- Peripheral markers support this, but direct neuroimaging evidence, especially in younger populations, is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate accelerated brain aging in young women with PTSD.
- Examine the association between accelerated brain aging and PTSD symptom severity.
Main Methods:
- 85 women (<40 years) studied: 34 with PTSD, 51 healthy controls (HCs).
- T1-weighted MRI analyzed with deep learning to estimate brain age.
- Brain age gap (BAG) calculated; PTSD symptoms assessed using CAPS-5.
Main Results:
- Women with PTSD showed significantly accelerated brain aging (mean BAG increase ~2.1 years vs. HCs, p=0.022).
- Higher PTSD symptom severity showed a marginally significant association with BAG (p=0.066).
- Increased severity of cognitive and mood symptoms (Criterion D) significantly correlated with a larger BAG (p=0.036).
Conclusions:
- PTSD may accelerate brain aging in young adulthood.
- Accelerated brain aging in PTSD is particularly associated with cognitive and mood symptom severity.
- Brain age gap may serve as a biomarker for specific PTSD symptom dimensions, aiding targeted interventions.
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