Machine Learning–Based Sleep Electroencephalographic Brain Age Index and Dementia Risk
JAMA Network Open 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.1521March 19, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT
Is a higher brain age index (BAI) derived from sleep electroencephalography (EEG) using machine learning associated with a higher risk of future dementia in community-dwelling older adults?In this individual participant data meta-analysis of 7105 adults from 5 longitudinal cohorts, every 10-year increase in BAI was associated with a 39% higher risk of incident dementia, independent of age, sex, apolipoprotein E ε4 status, and global cognition and comorbidities at the sleep study.These findings suggest that sleep EEG-based BAI may serve as a promising early digital marker for dementia risk stratification.
Link to the article in your story
We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)
Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.
Need more information? Contact us.