Exploring the Potential of 7T MRI for Brain Age Prediction

Motivation: While most brain age models have used 3T MRI data, high-resolution 7T MRI may offer increased sensitivity to subtle deviations from healthy aging. Goal(s): To validate the utility of 7T MRI-derived brain age and compare it with 3T MRI for assessing aging in healthy individuals and subjects with multiple sclerosis. Approach: We applied BrainAgeNeXt, a state-of-the-art method for brain age prediction, to 7T and 3T MRI data from healthy individuals and subjects with multiple sclerosis. Results: Brain age was similar to chronological age in healthy volunteers, whereas it was significantly greater in people with multiple sclerosis. Impact: This study investigates 7T MRI for precise brain age prediction. Its application to individuals with multiple sclerosis demonstrates the potential for brain age as a valuable biomarker for assessing accelerated aging and the risk of disability progression in neurological conditions.