A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Brain magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers for future frailty; sub‐study of FINGER trial



Authors: Pöyhönen, Johanna; Roitto, Hanna‐Maria; Lehtisalo, Jenni; Levälahti, Esko; Strandberg, Timo; Kivipelto, Miia; Antikainen, Riitta; Soininen, Hilkka; Tuomilehto, Jaakko; Laatikainen, Tiina; Solomon, Alina; Stephen, Ruth; Rinne, Juha; Westman, Eric; Ngandu, Tiia

Publication year: 2026

Journal: Alzheimer's and Dementia

Article number: e71379

Volume: 22

Issue: 4

ISSN: 1552-5260

eISSN: 1552-5279

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71379

Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access

Publication channel's open availability : Open Access publication channel

Web address : https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71379

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/523058999

Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY

Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF


Abstract
INTRODUCTION

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers for dementia exist, but little is known about their association with future frailty. We investigated whether baseline brain MRI findings associate with pre-frailty/frailty over 11 years.

METHODS

One hundred twenty participants, aged 60 to 77 years, in the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) had baseline MRI data. Frailty status (Fried phenotype) was measured at baseline, and at 2, 7, and 11 years. Risk of future pre-frailty/frailty per one standard deviation or one class greater volume/thickness/Fazekas score in baseline MRI was evaluated.

RESULTS

Pre-frailty/frailty was not associated with MRI biomarkers at baseline. Smaller left hippocampal volume was associated with pre-frailty/frailty at 2 (p = 0.042) and 7 years (p = 0.017), and higher load of periventricular white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) at 2 years (p = 0.048), independently of baseline cognition.

DISCUSSION

Smaller left hippocampal volume and higher periventricular WMH score in brain MRI may indicate future frailty risk.


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Funding information in the publication: 
This work was supported by funding received from the Juho Vainio Foundation (202400017), the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation (20237690), and the Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation (240060) by the corresponding author Johanna Pöyhönen. The FINGER study was supported by grants from the Research Council of Finland; Kela (Finland); the EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) EURO-FINGERS and Multi-MEMO grant (357810); the Finnish Cultural Foundation (Finland); the Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland); the Juho Vainio Foundation (Finland); the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (Finland); the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation (Finland); NordForsk through funding to NJ-FINGER (119886, Finland); the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation (USA); Alzheimerfonden (Sweden); the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet, Sweden); Region Stockholm (ALF, Sweden); the Center for Innovative Medicine (CIMED) at Karolinska Institutet (Sweden); Stiftelsen Stockholms Sjukhem (Sweden); Hjärnfonden (Sweden); FORTE (Grant 2023-01125, FINGER-PRO; Sweden); and state research funding for Oulu City Hospital and Turku University Hospital (Finland). Financial sponsors played no role in study design, methods, subject recruitment, data collection, analysis, or interpretation, or preparation of the paper.

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Last updated on 28/04/2026 10:35:07 AM