New research conducted by UC Davis Health Medical Center and published in the journal JAMA Neurology suggests that people’s brains are getting larger over time, indicating an improvement in Alzheimer’s conditions. The study reveals that individuals born in the 1970s and later have 6.6% more mass and 15% more surface area compared to those born in the 1930s.
According to Professor Charles DeCarli, a neurology expert at UC Davis Health and study author, genetics play a significant role in determining brain size. However, he also acknowledges the impact of external factors such as health, society, culture, and education on brain growth. The research is based on evidence from the long-term Framingham Heart Study and analyzed MRI images of over 3,200 individuals born between 1925 and 1968.
The findings show a gradual and steady increase in brain size over time. From the 1930s to the 1970s, the average brain size increased from 1,200 mm to 1,320 mm, with a corresponding increase in the surface area of the cerebral cortex. The researchers also noted growth in gray matter, white matter, and the hippocampus – regions of the brain associated with memory and learning.
These findings are seen as encouraging by experts who believe that larger brain structures could support better information storage and resilience against aging-related memory loss such as Alzheimer’s. It is hoped that these improvements could lead to potential improvements in age-related memory loss for many people.
