Some stay alert in their 90s: others experience cognitive decline with age.
December 11th 2007 11:59
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Study Gives Light to Link Between Aging and Memory Failure
Isabelle Duerme - AHN News Writer
Cambridge, MA (AHN) - Researchers have gathered more information explaining the decrease of mental abilities in people as they grow older.
Using medical imaging, to compare the brain activity of 93-year olds to that of healthy people from 18-93 years old, scientists from Harvard University discovered that aging results in the decrease in the brain's white matter that enables effective communication between one area and another.
This decrease in the amount of white matter, which serves as the brain's wiring, was identified to be causing the loss of mental agility, disabling an individual from performing "higher" cognitive functions, like memory storing and learning.
"This research helps us to understand how and why our minds change as we get older, and why some individuals remain sharp in their 90s, while others' mental abilities decline as they age," explained lead researcher Jessica Andrews-Hanna.
MRI was used by the researchers to watch water movement along specific parts.
Scientific American said that
Harvard cognitive neuroscientist Randy Buckner explained that strong communication is depicted by water flowing "as if cascading down a celery stalk." A scattering of the water signifies decreased communication quality - something that was apparent in the older group of subjects
.The study, the results of which were published in Neuron, was co-authored by other Harvard researchers, along with the collaboration of scientists from the University of Michigan , and Washington University.
So, irrespective of the research undertaken we are still forced to accept that some stay alert into their nineties while others' cognitive ability declines with age.
But I guess with research every little bit helps but this seems to just come up with yet another explanation of what happens to some but not others.
Let's not heap everyone into the same basket and treat them all the same.
And, meantime there is much that even the young can do to prevent their long term loss of function.
I keep telling you of this, almost daily.
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Very interesting read. Very well researched! My great aunt is 97 years old. She is sharp and very funny!
Mis