Brain atlas maps aging differences across brain regions, cell types, and sexes

A new high-resolution atlas of the aging primate brain reveals that aging unfolds differently across brain regions, cell types, and sexes, providing a detailed roadmap for understanding neurodegenerative disease risk. Led by Arizona State University, the study analyzed 5.3 million cells from 55 rhesus macaques across 11 brain regions. It found support cells like microglia change more with age than neurons, while specific cortical neurons decline sharply, and many age-related gene changes overlap with Alzheimer's disease. The atlas is part of a 27-study package from the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network, profiling over 29 million cells across human, macaque, marmoset, and mouse brains. The findings highlight sex-specific molecular differences and identify vulnerable cell populations, offering targets for future therapies like senolytic drugs.