A machine learning-derived brain age index, calculated from sleep electroencephalography (EEG) data, is showing strong potential as a predictor of dementia. This index measures the difference between a person's biological brain aging and their chronological age.
In a large meta-analysis of over 7,000 adults, each 10-year increase in the brain age index was associated with a 39% higher risk of developing dementia. This association remained significant even after adjusting for other health factors like comorbidities and genetic predispositions.
These findings suggest the brain age index could become a valuable, non-invasive tool for early dementia detection, potentially integrated into routine sleep studies and risk assessments to enable earlier interventions and advance precision medicine in dementia care.