As we get older, our brains change a lot, and these changes affect how we think and remember things. Here are some important ways our brain structure changes with age:
Gray Matter Volume: Around age 30, people start to lose gray matter volume. This is especially true for the prefrontal cortex, which helps us make decisions and control our actions. After age 40, gray matter volume decreases by about 0.5% to 1% each year.
White Matter Integrity: White matter, which helps different parts of the brain communicate, also breaks down as we age. By the time someone turns 60, they might have 25% less white matter integrity. This can lead to slower thinking and making it harder to do more than one thing at a time.
Hippocampal Volume: The hippocampus is the part of the brain that helps us form memories. Unfortunately, it shrinks by about 1% each year after age 60. This shrinkage is linked to a higher chance of memory-related issues, like Alzheimer's disease, which affects about 6.5 million people in the U.S. in 2023.
Neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt. As we age, this ability decreases. Older adults may produce about 50% fewer new neurons compared to younger adults.
Cognitive Implications: These structural changes impact how we think and remember:
In summary, as our brains change with age, it affects our memory, how fast we think, and how well we function overall. These changes can make it harder to remember things and process information as quickly as we once did.
As we get older, our brains change a lot, and these changes affect how we think and remember things. Here are some important ways our brain structure changes with age:
Gray Matter Volume: Around age 30, people start to lose gray matter volume. This is especially true for the prefrontal cortex, which helps us make decisions and control our actions. After age 40, gray matter volume decreases by about 0.5% to 1% each year.
White Matter Integrity: White matter, which helps different parts of the brain communicate, also breaks down as we age. By the time someone turns 60, they might have 25% less white matter integrity. This can lead to slower thinking and making it harder to do more than one thing at a time.
Hippocampal Volume: The hippocampus is the part of the brain that helps us form memories. Unfortunately, it shrinks by about 1% each year after age 60. This shrinkage is linked to a higher chance of memory-related issues, like Alzheimer's disease, which affects about 6.5 million people in the U.S. in 2023.
Neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt. As we age, this ability decreases. Older adults may produce about 50% fewer new neurons compared to younger adults.
Cognitive Implications: These structural changes impact how we think and remember:
In summary, as our brains change with age, it affects our memory, how fast we think, and how well we function overall. These changes can make it harder to remember things and process information as quickly as we once did.