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Shrinking Brains of Aging Do Not Impact Mental
Abilities: New Study
 June 10, 2005 – As people pass into their 60’s the
brain usually begins to shrink but new research says this shrinkage has
no impact on the individual's capacity to think or learn, which
challenges conventional views.
The research is part of a 20-year study by the ANU
Centre for Mental Health Research called PATH Through Life and suggests
a revision of long-standing views on the impact of age-related brain
shrinkage.
Professor Helen Christensen, the Director of the
Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR), said the findings challenged
traditional beliefs about the impact of aging on the brain.
"The common belief is that the brain shrinks with
age and that this shrinkage is linked to poorer memory and thinking.
There is also a belief that greater education or continued, sustained
intellectual activity might allow people to better accommodate the
effects of brain ageing," Professor Christensen said. "Our findings do
not support these beliefs. It is known that the brain shrinks over the
course of a person's life, although the exact trajectory is not well
understood, and there are huge individual differences.
"In this study, we found that, on average, men aged
64 years have smaller brains than men aged 60. However, despite this
shrinkage, cognitive functions - like memory, attention and speed of
processing - are unaffected.
"In the present study, we found no relationship
between brain shrinkage and education level".
Low educational attainment has been found to
predict the development of major memory difficulties and the recognition
of dementia in previous work. However, little is known about whether
education is protective of brain changes in the general population.
"Our findings do not support the role of education
in protecting against either brain change or cognitive performance.
These findings are good news for the large proportion of baby boomers
out there - and probably better news for the baby boomer women who show
no evidence of brain shrinkage over this short period of time".
The ANU researchers conducted a combination of MRI
scans and surveys of 446 people in their 60's in Canberra and Queanbeyan.
Their findings are the latest from the PATH Through
Life project, which was initiated by the CMHR in 1999.
Other outcomes of the project have included:
> Strong associations between childhood
adversity and adult depression. Factors most strongly related to
depression include: mother's depression, reports of neglectful
upbringing, too much physical punishment, having an unaffectionate
father, and experiencing a lot of family conflict.
> Bisexual people tended to suffer more
from anxiety, depression and suicidal tendency than homosexual or
heterosexual study participants.
> Young Australian adults are the least
likely to obtain GP care, compared to other age groups - despite
evidence of significant mental health problems, such as tendencies
towards suicide and substance abuse. The study found that those who used
GPs were most likely to be female, to have been or be undertaking higher
education and to be living with children. Young adults were also
identified as having poorer physical health, more chronic diseases and
higher levels of suicidal ideation when regularly using marijuana.
> Elevated symptoms of depression,
anxiety and negativity were related to levels of tobacco consumption and
marijuana use for both young men and women.
"The PATH Through Life project is set to shed much
information on health, wealth and happiness, and hopefully show the way
for health care and targeting of support to better meet the needs of
individuals at different stages of life," Professor Christensen said.
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