Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42034902›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Coupled cross-sectional and longitudinal non-negative matrix factorization reveals dominant brain aging trajectories in 48,949 individuals.

Ioanna Skampardoni, Guray Erus, Ilya M Nasrallah, Zhijian Yang, Michael R Duggan, Keenan A Walker, Alexander Getka, Kyunglok Baik, Randa Melhem, Sindhuja T Govindarajan and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Ioanna SkampardoniAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-2494-3837
Guray ErusAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6633-4861
Ilya M NasrallahAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2346-7562
Zhijian YangAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Michael R DugganLaboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Keenan A WalkerLaboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5989-9853
Alexander GetkaAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9319-8479
Kyunglok BaikAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-3645-9449
Randa MelhemAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Sindhuja T GovindarajanAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1741-0906
Susan M ResnickLaboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1115-7145
Haochang ShouAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3043-047X
Konstantina NikitaSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Christos DavatzikosAI2D Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. christos.davatzikos@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1025-8561

Funding

Research Education ComponentP30AG066507 · NIA · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI Corinne Pettigrew · 2020 to 2026
$29.3M
NIA NIH HHS P30 AG066507
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Machine learning can unravel heterogeneous patterns of brain aging and neurodegeneration, but existing methods offer limited insights into disease progression due to reliance on cross-sectional data. We introduce Coupled Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Non-negative Matrix Factorization (CCL-NMF) to capture dominant brain aging patterns by simultaneously leveraging cross-sectional and longitudinal neuroimaging data. CCL-NMF allows individuals to co-express multiple patterns, capturing mixed neuropathologic processes. Applied to neuroimaging data from 48,949 individuals from the harmonized iSTAGING study, CCL-NMF identifies seven distinct, reproducible, and biologically relevant neuroanatomical patterns. Subject-specific loading coefficients quantifying the individual expression of these patterns show distinct associations with cognition, genetic, and lifestyle factors. To support broader application, a regression-based tool was developed to estimate loadings in external cohorts without rerunning the full framework. By enabling individualized estimation of distinct brain aging patterns, these findings may improve risk assessment and therapeutic evaluation in neurodegenerative diseases. Although demonstrated using structural MRI, this framework is generalizable to other imaging modalities and biomarker types.

Indexed as

AgingBrainAgedCognitionCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMachine LearningMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedNeuroimaging

Identifiers

PMID42034902
PMCPMC13319776

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.