In recent years, research from the United States has shed light on a fascinating phenomenon – the brains of people born in the 1970s are, on average, 6.6 percent larger than those born in the 1930s. This increase in brain size is believed to have a protective effect against dementia symptoms.
Improved living conditions have played a significant role in this growth in brain size. Better health status, socio-cultural environment, and education have all contributed to this development. Charles DeCarli, head of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of California, Davis, suggests that while genes play a significant role in brain size, external factors also influence brain development and health.
As the population ages, there is a decrease in the proportion of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in the US and other developed countries. This indicates improved brain health and growth. A study comparing MRI images of approximately 3,200 subjects born in different decades found that the volume and surface area of the brain had increased significantly in those born in later decades. The hippocampus, the brain’s memory center, was also larger in those born more recently.
This research, published in Jama Neurology, highlights the importance of factors such as living conditions and education in promoting brain health and potentially reducing the risk of dementia. As we continue to learn more about how our brains develop and change over time, it becomes increasingly clear that our environment plays a crucial role in shaping not only our physical health but also our cognitive abilities.
