Work

BrainAGE and regional volumetric analysis of a Buddhist monk: a longitudinal MRI case study

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (YMR) is a Tibetan Buddhist monk, and renowned meditation practitioner and teacher who has spent an extraordinary number of hours of his life meditating. The brain-aging profile of this expert meditator in comparison to a control population was examined using a machine learning framework, which estimates "brain-age" from brain imaging. YMR's brain-aging rate appeared slower than that of controls suggesting early maturation and delayed aging. At 41 years, his brain resembled that of a 33-year-old. Specific regional changes did not differentiate YMR from controls, suggesting that the brain-aging differences may arise from coordinated changes spread throughout the gray matter.

Source: Neurocase

DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2020.1731553

Authors: Nagesh Adluru, Cole H. Korponay, Derek L. Norton, Robin I. Goldman, Richard J. Davidson

Institutions: University of Wisconsin–Madison, Harvard University, McLean Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green