Year: 2025
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric condition affecting a substantial number of individuals worldwide, with a disproportionately higher prevalence among females. PTSD is characterized by dysregulation in both the brain and body and has been associated with accelerated biological aging. Previous studies have linked PTSD to markers of biological aging, such as telomere shortening and alterations in epigenetic clocks. However, its specific impact on brain aging remains insufficiently understood. Emerging research suggests that PTSD may contribute to accelerated brain aging, as reflected in discrepancies between chronological and predicted brain age. Furthermore, the severity of PTSD symptoms, indicative of heightened psychological and physiological stress, may exacerbate neurobiological aging and elevate vulnerability to brain dysfunction. Aims & Objectives This study aims to investigate the relationship between PTSD and brain aging by examining differences in brain age gaps between young women with PTSD and healthy women. Additionally, it explores the correlation between the severity of PTSD symptoms and brain age gaps, enhancing our understanding of the neurobiological impacts of PTSD. Method The study recruited women under 40 years of age, including participants with current PTSD (n = 34) and age-matched, trauma-unexposed healthy individuals (n = 51). High-resolution T1-weighted images were obtained using a 3 Tesla MRI scanner, and data were preprocessed for a brain age prediction model. To tailor the model for the Korean population, we applied the brain age prediction algorithm from the previous study. A previously validated brain age prediction algorithm, further refined with data from over 4,000 healthy Korean individuals aged 18 to 80, was adapted for this study to enhance accuracy and ensure its relevance to the target population. Using this retrained model, predicted brain ages were calculated for all participants. Brain age gaps, defined as the difference between predicted brain age and chronological age, were analyzed to assess differences between groups. The study also examined the relationship between brain age gaps and PTSD symptom severity, measured using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Results Participants with PTSD exhibited significantly larger brain age gaps compared to healthy individuals (p = 0.038), indicating accelerated brain aging in the PTSD group. While no significant correlation was found between the total CAPS-5 score and brain age gaps, a significant positive correlation was observed between brain age gaps and the severity of cognitive and mood symptoms (CAPS-5 Criterion D subtotal score, p = 0.036). Discussion & Conclusions The study demonstrates that young women with PTSD experience significantly accelerated brain aging, as evidenced by larger brain age gaps. The observed association between brain age gaps and the severity of cognitive and mood symptoms underscores the importance of these symptom domains in neurobiological aging processes. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions focusing on cognitive and mood dysfunction to potentially mitigate accelerated brain aging in PTSD populations. Further research should explore longitudinal effects and broader demographic cohorts to deepen insights into PTSD-related brain aging.
Institutions: Ewha Womans University, Dongduk Women's University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,693
OpenAlex ID: W4413285085