Open AccessAssessment of brain age in posttraumatic stress disorder: Findings from the ENIGMA PTSD and brain age working groups
Author(s) -
Clausen Ashley N.,
Fercho Kelene A.,
Monsour Molly,
Disner Seth,
Salminen Lauren,
Haswell Courtney C.,
Rubright Emily Clarke,
Watts Amanda A.,
Buckley M. Nicole,
MaronKatz Adi,
Sierk Anika,
Manthey Antje,
SuarezJimenez Benjamin,
Olatunji Bunmi O.,
Averill Christopher L.,
Hofmann David,
Veltman Dick J.,
Olson Elizabeth A.,
Li Gen,
Forster Gina L.,
Walter Henrik,
Fitzgerald Jacklynn,
Théberge Jean,
Simons Jeffrey S.,
Bomyea Jessica A.,
Frijling Jessie L.,
Krystal John H.,
Baker Justin T.,
Phan K. Luan,
Ressler Kerry,
Han Laura K. M.,
Nawijn Laura,
Lebois Lauren A. M.,
Schmaal Lianne,
Densmore Maria,
Shenton Martha E.,
Zuiden Mirjam,
Stein Murray,
Fani Negar,
Simons Raluca M.,
Neufeld Richard W. J.,
Lanius Ruth,
Rooij Sanne,
Koch Saskia B.J.,
Bonomo Serena,
Jovanovic Tanja,
deRoonCassini Terri,
Ely Timothy D.,
Magnotta Vincent A.,
He Xiaofu,
Abdallah Chadi G.,
Etkin Amit,
Schmahl Christian,
Larson Christine,
Rosso Isabelle M.,
Blackford Jennifer Urbano,
Stevens Jennifer S.,
Daniels Judith K.,
Herzog Julia,
Kaufman Milissa L.,
Olff Miranda,
Davidson Richard J.,
Sponheim Scott R.,
Mueller Sven C.,
Straube Thomas,
Zhu Xi,
Neria Yuval,
Baugh Lee A.,
Cole James H.,
Thompson Paul M.,
Morey Rajendra A.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.2413
Subject(s) - brain aging , posttraumatic stress , context (archaeology) , young adult , psychology , neuroimaging , medicine , clinical psychology , audiology , psychiatry , cognition , biology , paleontology
Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with markers of accelerated aging. Estimates of brain age, compared to chronological age, may clarify the effects of PTSD on the brain and may inform treatment approaches targeting the neurobiology of aging in the context of PTSD. Method Adult subjects ( N = 2229; 56.2% male) aged 18–69 years (mean = 35.6, SD = 11.0) from 21 ENIGMA‐PGC PTSD sites underwent T1‐weighted brain structural magnetic resonance imaging, and PTSD assessment (PTSD+, n = 884). Previously trained voxel‐wise (brainageR) and region‐of‐interest (BARACUS and PHOTON) machine learning pipelines were compared in a subset of control subjects ( n = 386). Linear mixed effects models were conducted in the full sample (those with and without PTSD) to examine the effect of PTSD on brain predicted age difference (brain PAD; brain age − chronological age) controlling for chronological age, sex, and scan site. Results BrainageR most accurately predicted brain age in a subset ( n = 386) of controls (brainageR: ICC = 0.71, R = 0.72, MAE = 5.68; PHOTON: ICC = 0.61, R = 0.62, MAE = 6.37; BARACUS: ICC = 0.47, R = 0.64, MAE = 8.80). Using brainageR, a three‐way interaction revealed that young males with PTSD exhibited higher brain PAD relative to male controls in young and old age groups; old males with PTSD exhibited lower brain PAD compared to male controls of all ages. Discussion Differential impact of PTSD on brain PAD in younger versus older males may indicate a critical window when PTSD impacts brain aging, followed by age‐related brain changes that are consonant with individuals without PTSD. Future longitudinal research is warranted to understand how PTSD impacts brain aging across the lifespan.