Newly identified MRI biomarkers reveal physical brain changes from cognitive training, study finds

A new neuroimaging study published in the journal Brain Imaging and Behavior provides some of the first evidence that strengthening your brain health through daily habits rewires its physical architecture.

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The research, co-authored by BrainHealth Network collaborator Robyn A. Honea, Ph.D., of Honea NeuroPrecision LLC and Kansas University Medical Center, alongside scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, and Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas, identified specific, sex-informed MRI biomarkers that track changes in an individual's brain health trajectory over time.

Tracking subtle shifts in the cortex

The study tracked 190 healthy adults (aged 20–70, with 94 women and 96 men) who underwent up to five MRI scans over a four-year period. Rather than using traditional gross volumetric metrics, researchers employed advanced surface-based morphometry (SBM) to evaluate nuanced features of cortical complexity, including gyrification index (GI), sulcal depth (SD) and fractal dimension (FD).

These structural adaptations were analyzed alongside participants' changing scores on the BrainHealth Index, a validated, multidimensional composite developed by Center for BrainHealth that tracks cognitive clarity, social connectedness and emotional balance.

Key research findings

• The brain's structure can be rewired: Self-reported improvements in the BrainHealth Index were significantly linked to underlying, state-like changes in the brain's neuroanatomy, reinforcing that neural efficiency drives structural optimization across adulthood.

• Cortical complexity is a biomarker: Significant increases in the gyrification index (the complexity of cortical folding) were found in the left insula and posterior cingulate cortex as participants' brain health scores improved over time. The insula acts as a critical hub connecting key brain networks responsible for higher-order cognition.

• Sex-specific trajectories in women: In female participants, gains in brain health correlated uniquely with increased sulcal depth within the left precuneus, middle temporal gyrus, and right cingulate gyrus—regions highly associated with memory processing, emotional regulation, and successful cognitive aging.

• Predictive traits in men: In male participants, higher baseline brain health scores predicted a significant increase in fractal dimension over time within the left inferior parietal cortex, indicating that baseline cortical complexity can serve as a trait marker identifying individuals primed for brain health optimization.

From neuroplasticity to measurable change

"This study marks a significant leap forward in precision brain health by demonstrating that a holistic, multidimensional index of human performance actually covaries with physical, measurable changes in brain architecture," said corresponding author Honea, with Honea NeuroPrecision LLC and Kansas University Medical Center. "By proving that surface-based structural features like gyrification and sulcal depth adapt alongside behavioral gains, we show that the adult brain remains structurally dynamic and capable of optimization throughout the lifespan."

"These findings represent a major milestone made possible by the Center's BrainHealth Network," said co-author Mark D'Esposito, M.D., professor of neuroscience at UC Berkeley and co-leader of the BrainHealth Network. "By leveraging this collaborative network of leading scientists and sharing robust, multisite neuroimaging data, we are moving from theoretical neuroplasticity to hard, physical proof. This collaborative infrastructure is exactly what allows us to accelerate discoveries that can shift medicine from a reactive model to proactive, precision brain health."

Tailoring brain health over time

Participants in this naturalistic cohort were enrolled in The BrainHealth Project, a landmark longitudinal study exploring the dynamic relationship between lifestyle factors, biological markers, brain training and cognitive performance—giving them optional access to digital microlearning strategy modules (SMART brain training) and personalized coaching intended to build daily brain-healthy habits.

"Every brain has a unique structural profile and an inherent capacity for positive neuroplastic change," said co-author Lori Cook, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, director of clinical research at Center for BrainHealth and BrainHealth Network collaborator.

"These findings encourage a sex-informed lens when mapping structural MRI biomarkers to cognitive enhancement. Moving forward, combining behavioral indices with advanced morphometric tracking will allow us to tailor interventions to individual neuroanatomical profiles, empowering people to actively manage and optimize their brain performance."

More information: Robyn A. Honea et al, Longitudinal surface-based morphometry reveals potential MRI biomarkers correlated with multidimensional brain health measures, Brain Imaging and Behavior (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s11682-026-01175-1

Provided by Center for BrainHealth