Brain Disorders May Make the Brain Grow Older Faster: Study

People living with certain brain disorders may experience faster ageing of the brain than expected, according to a new study. Researchers found that conditions such as dementia, alcohol dependence and schizophrenia can leave visible signs of ageing in different parts of the brain, with each disorder showing its own pattern.

The researchers analysed MRI scans from nearly 46,000 healthy people and compared them with scans from 2,698 patients diagnosed with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Using these scans, they estimated each person's "brain age" and compared it with their actual age.

The study found that many patients had brains that appeared older than expected, suggesting accelerated brain ageing. However, the changes were not the same across all disorders. Instead, each condition affected different brain regions in its own way.

The researchers believe these findings could help doctors recognise brain disorders earlier, monitor how they progress, and develop treatments that are more personalised. They say understanding how different diseases influence brain ageing may also improve future research into brain health and age-related conditions.