Summary: A new study using advanced deep-learning brain age estimation finds that World Trade Center responders with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show signs of accelerated brain aging. Using BrainAgeNeXt, an artificial intelligence model trained on more than 11,000 MRI scans, researchers observed that responders with PTSD had brains that appeared older than their chronological age, with the effect strongest among those who spent longer periods at Ground Zero.
These results indicate that PTSD may have measurable neurobiological consequences that accelerate structural brain aging and could increase vulnerability to age-related cognitive decline. Brain age measures may serve as a practical biomarker to monitor neurological health in people exposed to severe trauma.
Key Facts
- Older-appearing brains: WTC responders diagnosed with PTSD exhibited significantly greater brain age estimates compared with responders without PTSD.
- Exposure amplifies effect: Longer durations working at Ground Zero were associated with larger differences between brain age and chronological age in those with PTSD.
- Potential biomarker: Brain age derived from MRI may detect early neurobiological impacts of trauma and help guide monitoring and intervention strategies.
Source: Mount Sinai Hospital
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai report that PTSD may be linked to accelerated brain aging among World Trade Center (WTC) responders involved in rescue and recovery operations after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Published in Translational Psychiatry, this study is the first to apply a deep learning-based brain age model to a cohort of WTC responders. The research team used BrainAgeNeXt, a convolutional neural network trained and validated on over 11,000 T1-weighted MRI scans, to estimate each participant’s brain age and compare it with chronological age.
The study found that responders with PTSD had brain age estimates that were, on average, several years older than their actual ages, while responders without PTSD had brain age estimates close to or slightly younger than their chronological ages. The discrepancy—often described as Brain Age Difference (BAD)—was significantly higher among those with PTSD. Duration of exposure at the WTC site moderated this effect: longer site exposure correlated with larger BAD values in participants with PTSD.
“These findings suggest that PTSD is not only a psychological diagnosis but may also manifest as measurable changes in brain structure that resemble accelerated aging,” said Azzurra Invernizzi, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Environmental Medicine at Icahn Mount Sinai and first author of the study. “Quantifying brain age helps reveal the neurobiological toll of trauma and points to opportunities for early intervention to preserve cognitive health.”
The authors emphasize that accelerated brain aging could translate into increased risk for age-related neurodegenerative conditions and cognitive decline. Identifying brain age as an accessible biomarker can improve long-term surveillance of trauma-exposed populations and inform tailored care strategies that address both mental and neurological health.
Megan K. Horton, PhD, MPH, Professor of Environmental Medicine at Icahn Mount Sinai and the study’s senior author, noted: “Using advanced neuroimaging and computational tools allows us to detect how PTSD and prolonged stress may alter brain structure and function over time. This evidence is essential for designing interventions that prevent or reduce early cognitive decline.”
The study included collaboration with investigators from the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University and received funding from multiple agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Institute on Aging, the National Institutes of Health, and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Michael A. Crane, MD, MPH, Medical Director of the World Trade Center Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai, added: “Mount Sinai’s ongoing work with WTC responders combines neuroscience, environmental health, and computational methods to better understand and address the long-term effects of 9/11-related trauma.”
Key Questions Answered:
A: Responders with PTSD showed significantly older-than-expected brain age estimates, indicating accelerated neurobiological aging compared with matched responders without PTSD.
A: The team used BrainAgeNeXt, a deep learning convolutional neural network trained on over 11,000 MRI scans to predict brain age from structural neuroimaging data.
A: Accelerated brain aging may increase the risk of cognitive decline and age-related neurodegenerative disease, making brain age a promising biomarker for monitoring trauma-exposed individuals and guiding preventive care.
Editorial Notes:
- This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor.
- The journal paper was reviewed in full by the editorial team.
- Additional context was added by staff to clarify implications for clinical monitoring and public health policy.
About this brain aging and PTSD research news
Author: Laura Ruocco-Duran
Source: Mount Sinai Hospital
Contact: Laura Ruocco-Duran – Mount Sinai Hospital
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Closed access. “MRI signature of brain age underlying post-traumatic stress disorder in World Trade Center responders” by Azzurra Invernizzi et al., Translational Psychiatry
Abstract
MRI signature of brain age underlying post-traumatic stress disorder in World Trade Center responders
Approximately 23% of men and women who participated in rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site experience persistent, clinically significant PTSD. Structural and functional MRI studies have documented meaningful neural differences between responders with and without PTSD.
This study applied brain age, an MRI-based, data-driven biomarker optimized to detect accelerated structural aging, to assess the impact of PTSD. Using BrainAgeNeXt, a convolutional neural network trained and validated on over 11,000 T1-weighted MRI scans, researchers predicted brain age in WTC responders with PTSD (n = 47) and age- and sex-matched responders without PTSD (n = 52).
Brain Age Difference (BAD) was calculated by subtracting chronological age from predicted brain age. BAD was significantly higher in the PTSD group than in the non-PTSD group (BAD_no_PTSD = −0.43 years; BAD_WTC_PTSD = 3.07 years; p < 0.001). Additionally, the number of months spent working on site moderated the association between PTSD and BAD (p = 0.005).
These results support the use of brain age as a marker of structural brain alteration in WTC responders. The findings suggest that PTSD may be a risk factor for accelerated brain aging in trauma-exposed populations and highlight the value of integrating neuroimaging biomarkers into long-term monitoring and care strategies.