Deep learning uncovers gene targets and potential drugs to slow brain aging

Medical Xpress / Science Advances ^ | March 16, 2025 | Sanjukta Mondal / Fan Yi et al

[ConservativeMind]

In a new study, scientists analyzed MRI data stored at the UK Biobank and identified seven genes responsible for fast biological brain aging and 13 existing drugs that can target those genes.

Slowing the aging process is a powerful strategy to prevent many diseases and enhance longevity.

A crucial parameter in brain health research is the brain age gap (BAG), which is the difference between a person's estimated biological brain age and their chronological age.

The brain age gap is also a reliable biomarker (or proxy) for studying brain health.

While the effects of the BAG are well explored, identifying the factors driving the brain's aging process remains a challenge. Genes are known to play a crucial role in shaping how the brain ages.

In this study, researchers used deep learning models trained on MRI scans, lifestyle data, health records, and genetic information from nearly 39,000 UK Biobank participants—averaging 64 years old, with an equal gender distribution—to pinpoint specific genes that contribute to a widening BAG.

Their findings uncovered that seven genes (MAPT, TNFSF12, GZMB, SIRPB1, GNLY, NMB, and C1RL) were promising targets for brain aging.

The 3D-ViT model accurately predicted the biological brain age of the participants by analyzing key signatures in their MRI scans. Researchers used saliency map analysis, a technique that highlights the most influential areas in an image or dataset, to identify the brain regions critical for brain age estimation.

By combining insights on specific gene targets, brain regions linked to aging, and existing clinical trial data, the researchers identified 13 drugs and supplements, including hydrocortisone, testosterone, diclofenac, and metformin, that can be repurposed to slow down brain aging.

[ConservativeMind]

From the paper:

Thirteen of these drugs (cholecalciferol, dasatinib, diclofenac, doconexent, estradiol, hydrocortisone, mecamylamine, nicotine, prasterone, quercetin, resveratrol, sirolimus, and testosterone) are associated with clinical trials for aging-related indications, as reported in the ChEMBL database.

Quercetin seems to hit the most targets.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Uncle Miltie]

I’m on the quercetin and grape seed extract (won’t afford the pure resveratrol).

Maybe I need to take up smoking.

;-)

[Cold Heart]

I took up smoking just to get the benefits of quitting.

[spokeshave]

I’m on the quercetin and grape seed extract (won’t afford the pure resveratrol).

I am on quercetin ....will check the other 2

Have my spouse's village recipe book....calls for grape molasses as one of the ingredients in a beef stew.

[spokeshave]

Maybe as my memory is not too good i will forget to die

[peggybac]

Just viewed part of a podcast touting the advantages of nicotine. I do take Quercetin and Diclofenac daily.