NEW evidence points to faster brain ageing in individuals with PTSD, with the latest analysis identifying structural changes linked directly to the disorder. Researchers report that responders exposed to the World Trade Center site show measurable signs of accelerated neural decline.
Prolonged WTC Exposure and PTSD
A growing body of research indicates that long-term trauma exposure and persistent PTSD can reshape neural health. In this cohort, approximately 23 percent of men and women who assisted in rescue and recovery operations at the 9/11 site continue to experience clinically significant PTSD. Prior MRI studies document clear structural differences between responders with and without the condition, and this latest study expands on those findings by examining how PTSD influences the trajectory of brain ageing.
Deep-Learning Brain Age Modelling
Using BrainAgeNeXt, a convolutional neural network trained on more than 11,000 T1-weighted MRI scans, investigators predicted brain age among responders with PTSD (n=47) and age and sex matched controls without PTSD (n=52). The team calculated Brain Age Difference by subtracting chronological age from predicted brain age. Results showed that BAD was significantly older in the PTSD group (BADno_PTSD = −0.43 y; BADWTC_PTSD = 3.07 y; p < 0.001). WTC exposure duration moderated the association between PTSD and BAD (p = 0.005), suggesting that greater time spent on-site intensified brain ageing effects. Importantly, two additional brain age models confirmed this pattern, demonstrating that the accelerated ageing findings were not limited to a single algorithm.
Implications for Clinical Practice
These findings underscore the importance of integrating MRI-derived biomarkers into routine monitoring for individuals with PTSD. The demonstrated link between PTSD and accelerated brain ageing supports early intervention strategies, targeted neuroprotective approaches, and long-term surveillance of cognitive decline in trauma-exposed populations. Clinical teams may benefit from incorporating brain age metrics to improve detection, risk stratification, and personalised treatment planning. Further work should explore whether therapeutic interventions can slow or reverse the ageing patterns observed in this study.
Reference
Invernizzi A et al. MRI signature of brain age underlying post-traumatic stress disorder in World Trade Center responders. Transl Psychiatry. 2025;DOI:10.1038/s41398-025-03769-7.
