A study published in the journal JAMA Neurology on March 26 has revealed that people born in the 1970s have experienced a 6.6% increase in brain volume compared to the 1930s generation. This increase in brain size is believed to help reduce the risk of dementia in old age. Researchers attribute this increase to improving early-life environmental factors.
The study involved reviewing brain MRI images of 3,226 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, which began in 1948 in Framingham, Massachusetts. Participants from every decade since the 1930s were included in the study, providing a comprehensive look at brain changes over time. The researchers compared MRI images from 1999 to 2019 and found that average brain volume had increased from 1,234 ml to 1,321 ml over a 40-year period, with an increase of about 6.6%.
In addition to overall brain volume, the study also found that the cortical surface area of people born in the 1970s was nearly 15% larger than those born in earlier decades. This indicates that factors beyond genetics can influence brain size and structure, such as health, social, cultural, and educational influences.
While more research is needed to fully understand the impact of increased brain size on long-term health, this study suggests that larger brain structures may reflect improved brain development and health. The decreasing incidence of dementia despite an increase in Alzheimer’s disease cases could be linked to these findings. Specific areas related to memory and learning showed increases in size with each decade as well. These findings suggest that changes in brain size and structure may have implications for cognitive health and disease prevention.
Overall, this research highlights the importance of early-life environmental factors on shaping our brains and potentially reducing our risk for certain diseases later on in life.
Moreover, it emphasizes how further research is required to fully comprehend how such changes affect our long-term cognitive function and overall health outcomes.
Therefore, it is crucial for individuals who are concerned about their cognitive health or want to prevent certain neurological diseases should pay attention to their early-life environment as well as maintain healthy lifestyle habits throughout their life journey.
