Brain aging using large brain MRI database

Now we confront a super aging society in Japan. In the situation, it is important to preserve our cognitive function for entire life by preventing us from pathological brain aging. To perform the aim, we have built a large brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) database from around 3000 subjects aged from 5 to 80 in order to reveal how brain develops and ages. We have also collected several cognitive functions, lifestyle such as eating and sleeping habits, and genetic data. Using the database, we have revealed normal brain development and aging, and also have revealed what factors affect brain development and aging. For example, there were significant negative correlation between alcohol drinking and gray matter volume of front-parietal region, and body mass index and gray matter volume of the hippocampus in cross-sectional analysis. In addition, having intellectual curiosity showed significant negative correlation with regional gray matter volume decline rate in the temporo-parietal region. These findings help understanding the mechanism of brain development and aging as well as performing differential diagnosis or diagnosis at an early stage of several diseases/disorders such as autism and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, I will introduce you the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project, in which we will build brain MRI database of around 30,000 healthy subjects. By performing the project, we aim to build a system of preventive medicine for several diseases/disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.