Scientists from Duke, Harvard, and the University of Otago have unveiled DunedinPACNI, a new AI brain scan tool that can accurately predict a person's biological aging rate from a single MRI scan taken at age 45. Based on the long-term Dunedin Study, this tool links faster brain aging to significantly increased risks of dementia, chronic illnesses, and mortality, offering a potential breakthrough for preventive medicine and personalized wellness strategies.
AI brain scan tool predicts how fast you are aging
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Scientists from Duke, Harvard, and the University of Otago have unveiled DunedinPACNI, a new AI brain scan tool that can accurately predict a person's biological aging rate from a single MRI scan taken at age 45. Based on the long-term Dunedin Study, this tool links faster brain aging to significantly increased risks of dementia, chronic illnesses, and mortality, offering a potential breakthrough for preventive medicine and personalized wellness strategies.
Trending- 1 1970s: The Dunedin Study began, following over 1,000 people since their birth.
- 2 Ongoing: Researchers analyzed decades of data to develop a unique 'aging score' for participants.
- 3 Thursday, July 10, 2025: Scientists unveiled the DunedinPACNI AI brain scan tool.
- Potential for early detection of health risks related to accelerated aging
- Motivation for at-risk individuals to make healthier lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, stress management)
- Assistance for healthcare providers in evaluating treatment effectiveness and slowing age-related disease progression
- Provides a non-invasive window into biological aging that traditional tests could not
What: Scientists have unveiled DunedinPACNI, an AI brain scan tool designed to predict how fast a person is biologically aging.
When: The tool was unveiled on Thursday, July 10, 2025. The Dunedin Study, on which it is based, has followed over 1,000 people since their birth in the 1970s.
Where: Research conducted by scientists from Duke University, Harvard University, and the University of Otago (New Zealand).
Why: To understand and track biological aging, identify individuals at higher risk for age-related health issues, and potentially enable early interventions in preventive medicine.
How: DunedinPACNI uses a single AI brain scan (MRI) to predict an 'aging score' that correlates with a person's biological aging rate, based on decades of health data from the Dunedin Study.