A new MRI scan could help doctors see how fast your brain is aging — and even spot dementia risk before symptoms appear. Researchers from Duke, Harvard, and the University of Otago in New Zealand developed the tool by tracking people over decades. They found that those with faster brain aging had more memory loss, health problems, and a higher risk of early death.
The scan needs only one MRI and was tested in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Latin America. It worked well across these groups. People whose brains aged faster showed smaller memory centers and were 60% more likely to develop dementia. This kind of early warning could help doctors catch at-risk patients sooner and plan treatments to slow decline.
Experts hope this tool will soon be used in clinics worldwide. By spotting early signs of aging and disease, doctors could help people make better health choices before problems become serious. It's a promising step toward preventing dementia and improving brain health as we age.
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