Exposome-wide patterns predict brain health in aging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Public Health
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Brain health is crucial for overall well-being and reducing healthcare costs.
• Brain Age Gap (BAG) quantifies brain health by comparing chronological age to predicted brain age.
• A comprehensive understanding of how the exposome influences brain health is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between the exposome and brain health, specifically grey matter (GM) health, using the Brain Age Gap (BAG).
• To identify key exposome factors that predict GM health.
• To understand the impact of exposure timing and duration on brain health.

Main Methods:

• Calculated BAG as an indicator of GM health in UK Biobank participants.
• Utilized machine learning to predict BAG using 261 exposome variables across biomedical, environmental, lifestyle, socio-affective, and early life domains.
• Analyzed the contribution of different exposome domains to BAG prediction.

Main Results:

• Exposome data effectively predicted GM health.
• Factors related to cardiovascular health, bone health, alcohol consumption, smoking, nutrition, and diabetes were significant predictors of BAG.
• The period and duration of exposure within these domains were critical.

Conclusions:

• The exposome significantly shapes brain health and can predict grey matter health.
• Cardiovascular, metabolic, and lifestyle factors are key modifiable determinants of brain health.
• Early intervention and prevention strategies focusing on cardiovascular and metabolic health are essential for promoting lifelong brain health.