Vertebral bone density on chest CT tied to cognitive decline and brain aging markers

Lower vertebral bone density on chest CT linked to faster cognitive decline and greater white matter hyperintensity accumulation, per a longitudinal MESA analysis. Findings suggest shared aging processes and highlight opportunistic CT potential.

• Deep learning–derived vertebral volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) from noncontrast chest CT was associated with faster decline in global cognition over time.
• Lower vBMD correlated with greater accumulation of white matter hyperintensities in the corpus callosum and steeper decline in white matter fractional anisotropy in the anterior limb of the internal capsule.
• The associations suggest shared metabolic processes in brain and bone aging, not a direct causal relationship, and support opportunistic screening using routine CT.

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