EDUCATION (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -As we age our brains shrink in volume, particularly in the frontal cortex. As our vasculature ages and our blood pressure rises the possibility of stroke and ischaemia increases and our white matter develops lesions. Memory decline also occurs with ageing and brain activation becomes more bilateral for memory tasks.

Detailed explanation-2: -In the early years of life, the brain forms more than a million new neural connections every second. By the age of 6, the size of the brain increases to about 90% of its volume in adulthood. Then, in our 30s and 40s, the brain starts to shrink, with the shrinkage rate increasing even more by age 60.

Detailed explanation-3: -Changes in the Aging Brain Certain parts of the brain shrink, especially those important to learning and other complex mental activities. In certain brain regions, communication between neurons (nerve cells) may not be as effective. Blood flow in the brain may decrease.

Detailed explanation-4: -Cerebral atrophy-the loss of nerve cells (neurons) and the connections that help them communicate in the brain’s tissues-occurs in many disorders that affect the brain, such as stroke, Alzheimer’s, disease, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, or infections.

Detailed explanation-5: -So although the average decline in the frontal lobe was 24% at age 80, it was only about 6% at age 70. So why do chimpanzees make it through their entire normal life spans without significant brain shrinkage, whereas the human brain appears to wither with age?