Prediction of brain age using structural magnetic resonance imaging: a comparison of clinical utility of publicly available software packages.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Brain age estimated from structural magnetic resonance images is commonly used as a biomarker of biological ageing and brain health. Ideally, as a clinically useful biomarker, brain age should indicate the current state of health and be predictive of future disease onset and detrimental changes in brain biology.

Methods

In this preregistered study, we evaluated and compared the clinical utility, i.e., diagnostic and prognostic performance, of six publicly available brain age prediction packages using data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI).

Findings

Baseline brain age differed significantly between groups consisting of individuals with normal cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease for all packages, bu

SUBMITTER: Dorfel RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12805294 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature