Brain age estimation reveals older adults’ accelerated senescence after traumatic brain injury

Adults aged 60 and over are most vulnerable to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Nevertheless, the extent to which chronological age (CA) at injury affects TBI-related brain aging is unknown. This study applies Gaussian process regression to T-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRIs) acquired within ∼ 7 days and again ∼ 6 months after a single mTBI sustained by 133 participants aged 20–83 (CA μ± σ = 42.6 ± 17 years; 51 females). Brain BAs are estimated, modeled, and compared as a function of sex and CA at injury using a statistical model selection procedure. On average, the brains of older adults age by 15.3 ± 6.9 years after mTBI, whereas those of younger adults age only by 1.8 ± 5.6 years, a significant difference (Welch’s t = − 9.17, p ≃ 9.47 × 10). For an adult aged ∼ 30 to ∼ 60, the expected amount of TBI-related brain aging is ∼ 3 years greater than in an individual younger by a decade. For an individual over ∼ 60, the respective amount is ∼ 7 years. Despite no significant sex differences in brain aging (Welch’s t = 0.78, p > 0.78), the statistical test is underpowered. BAs estimated at acute baseline versus chronic follow-up do not differ significantly (t = 0.41, p > 0.66, power = 80%), suggesting negligible TBI-related brain aging during the chronic stage of TBI despite accelerated aging during the acute stage. Our results indicate that a single mTBI sustained after age ∼ 60 involves approximately ∼ 10 years of premature and lasting brain aging, which is MRI detectable as early as ∼ 7 days post-injury.