Brain scan predicts dementia risk by reading brain's ‘hidden ageing clock'
dementia , including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope.
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A team of scientists from Duke University and Harvard University in the US, and the University of Otago in New Zealand, has just unveiled a new MRI-based tool that reads the brain's 'hidden ageing clock'.
The DunedinPACNI takes the front of its name from the Dunedin Study, a long-running health research project in New Zealand that began in 1972, while PACNI stands for Pace of Ageing Calculated from NeuroImaging.
It has been tracking 1,037 babies born in Dunedin from birth, continuing through their entire lives. Think of it as a 50-year time-lapse study on human health; it is often called 'the world's most detailed study of human development'.
The DunedinPACNI uses an MRI-based tool like this MRI machine to read the brain's 'hidden ageing clock'. Photo: Shutterstock
The Dunedin Study's value comes from the fact that it follows the same people over time. Researchers regularly collect detailed data on all aspects of their health – physical, mental and brain health, lifestyle, relationships, and even genetics.
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This is the 68th instalment in a series on dementia , including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Advertisement A team of scientists from Duke University and Harvard University in the US, and the University of Otago in New Zealand, has just unveiled a new MRI-based tool that reads the brain's 'hidden ageing clock'. The DunedinPACNI takes the front of its name from the Dunedin Study, a long-running health research project in New Zealand that began in 1972, while PACNI stands for Pace of Ageing Calculated from NeuroImaging. It has been tracking 1,037 babies born in Dunedin from birth, continuing through their entire lives. Think of it as a 50-year time-lapse study on human health; it is often called 'the world's most detailed study of human development'. The DunedinPACNI uses an MRI-based tool like this MRI machine to read the brain's 'hidden ageing clock'. Photo: Shutterstock The Dunedin Study's value comes from the fact that it follows the same people over time. Researchers regularly collect detailed data on all aspects of their health – physical, mental and brain health, lifestyle, relationships, and even genetics. Advertisement
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