A study by UC Davis Health researchers reveals that human brains are increasing in size over the years. The research found that the brains of people born in the 1970s are, on average, 6.6% larger than those born in the 1930s. This increase in brain size could potentially reduce the risk of age-related memory diseases.
Using data from the Framingham Heart Study, which tracked 15,000 people over 75 years, researchers examined changes in brain size, cortical gray matter, cerebral white matter, hippocampal volume, cortical surface area, and cortical thickness. Findings showed that those born in the 1970s had 7.7% more white matter, 2.2% more cortical gray matter, 5.7% more hippocampal volume, and 14.9% more cortical surface area compared to those born in the 1930s. However, cortical thickness decreased by 20.9%.
Researchers hypothesize that larger brains with more neurons and synaptic connections may offer protection against cognitive decline due to brain atrophy. The study was published in the JAMA Neurology journal.
Currently, an estimated 58 million people worldwide have memory-related diseases, a number expected to rise to 152.8 million by 2050. These diseases include Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s-related dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia.
Symptoms of these conditions include memory problems, repetitive questioning, difficulty finding and recognizing words, confusion in unfamiliar situations, issues with money and numbers, anxiety, planning and execution difficulties, changes in behavior, mood, and personality, sleep disturbances, and repetitive actions.
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