Precision Estimates of Longitudinal Brain Aging Capture Unexpected Individual Differences in One Year

The preprint operates within the dominant paradigm of neuroscience and neurodegenerative disease research, which emphasizes the importance of longitudinal studies to understand brain aging and disease progression. It also accepts the established methods of brain imaging and morphometric analysis.

This preprint presents a methodological refinement within the existing paradigm of brain aging research. It doesn't challenge fundamental assumptions or propose a radical shift in understanding. Instead, it focuses on improving the precision of measurement within the accepted framework. The use of cluster scanning, while novel in its application to this specific problem, is a technical advancement rather than a paradigm shift. The results, while highlighting individual variability, are interpreted within the context of established knowledge about age-related brain changes and neurodegenerative diseases. The paper contributes to the cumulative progress of normal science by refining measurement techniques and providing more detailed data within the current paradigm.