Multidimensional Body Composition Modalities and Their Associations with Brain Aging in Chinese Adults

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Public Health

Background:

• Brain aging is a complex process influenced by various factors.
• Understanding the link between body composition and brain health is crucial for preventative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between multidimensional body composition and brain aging in Chinese adults.
• To identify specific body composition patterns related to accelerated brain aging.

Main Methods:

• Brain age was estimated using computed tomography (CT) scans and ridge regression.
• Principal component analysis identified body composition modalities.
• Logistic regression analyzed the relationship between body composition and brain age acceleration/deceleration.

Main Results:

• Three distinct body composition modalities were identified: fat mass dominant, fat-free mass dominant, and trunk-leg contrast distribution.
• A fat mass dominant body composition was significantly associated with accelerated brain aging (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15–1.71).
• The association remained robust in sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions:

• A fat mass dominant body composition is a significant indicator of accelerated brain aging.
• Integrating body composition assessment into health screenings may facilitate targeted interventions for brain aging prevention.