Abstract: Aging does not occur at the same pace across all organs, and new research from the UK Biobank suggests the brain’s biological age may reveal more than we thought. Using MRI data from over 28,000 participants, researchers calculated a “brain age gap” (BAG) by comparing predicted brain age with chronological age. They found that individuals with a higher BAG, meaning their brains appeared biologically older, tended to have lower bone mineral density across multiple skeletal sites and a higher risk of fractures. The association was particularly pronounced in men and postmenopausal women, highlighting important sex-specific differences in aging patterns. These findings suggest that advanced brain aging may reflect broader systemic processes affecting both neurological and skeletal health. By linking brain imaging biomarkers with bone outcomes, the study opens new avenues for integrated approaches to age-related disease risk assessment and prevention.
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