Hidden brain wiring may help keep the mind sharp as gray matter shrinks
Researchers have discovered that superficial white matter in the brain helps maintain cognitive function as gray matter declines. This study suggests that the health of local neural wiring is just as critical as gray matter volume for preserving thinking abilities in older adults.
Why it matters
Understanding these brain pathways could lead to better diagnostic tools and interventions for age-related cognitive decline and dementia.
Scientists at the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have uncovered evidence that two neighboring types of brain tissue may work together to support thinking abilities later in life. Their findings suggest that the condition of the brain's local communication pathways could influence how strongly gray matter loss affects cognition.
The study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association , included brain imaging and cognitive testing from 459 adults aged 60 and older living in communities across India. The research is among the first to investigate superficial white matter in a community-based population from a low- and middle-income country.
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