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9/11 Responders' Brains Aging Faster Due to Trauma
28 Aug
Summary
- PTSD linked to brains appearing three years older than chronological age.
- Longer Ground Zero exposure strengthens PTSD's link to accelerated brain aging.
- Brain age could be a new biomarker for monitoring trauma survivors' health.
New research, conducted nearly a quarter-century after the attacks, suggests that the neurological impact of 9/11 may be accelerating brain aging in first responders. A study published in a psychiatric journal analyzed MRI scans of 99 World Trade Center responders in their mid-50s.
Responders diagnosed with chronic PTSD exhibited brains that appeared, on average, three years older than their chronological age. In contrast, those without PTSD showed brain ages slightly younger than expected. The research also found a stronger correlation between PTSD and accelerated brain aging for responders who had longer exposure durations at Ground Zero.
This groundbreaking study, which utilized an AI-powered deep learning model called BrainAgeNeXt, is the first to apply such technology to this group. Researchers posit that brain age could become a vital biomarker for monitoring the neurological health of individuals exposed to severe trauma. They advocate for ongoing support and monitoring for World Trade Center responders as they continue to age.
