A recent study conducted by researchers at UC Davis Health has revealed a fascinating trend: younger generations possess larger brains, and this trend appears to be continuing. Published in JAMA Neurology, the study found that individuals born in the 1970s exhibit brain volumes approximately 6.6% larger and brain surface areas nearly 15% larger compared to those born in the 1930s.
Charles DeCarli, the study's lead author and a professor of neurology at UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre, emphasized the impact of birth decade on brain size and long-term brain health. He noted that while genetics play a significant role in determining brain size, external influences such as health, social, cultural, and educational factors may also contribute.
DeCarli explained, "Larger brain structures, as observed in our study, may reflect improved brain development and overall brain health. A larger brain reserve could potentially mitigate the effects of age-related brain diseases like Alzheimer's and related dementias."
The study, which utilized MRI scans to examine participants born between the 1930s and 1970s, included 3,226 individuals with an average age of 57 at the time of their MRI. Results consistently showed increases in various brain structures across different birth decades.
For instance, brain volume steadily increased from an average of 1,234ml for those born in the 1930s to 1,321ml for those born in the 1970s, representing a 6.6% increase. Similarly, cortical surface area, a measure of the brain's surface, exhibited a nearly 15% increase among participants born in the 1970s compared to those born in the 1930s.
Additionally, other brain structures such as white matter, grey matter, and the hippocampus, crucial for learning and memory, also demonstrated size increases across the two groups.
These findings suggest a positive trend towards larger brain structures in younger generations, potentially contributing to better brain health and a reduced risk of age-related dementia.
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