It has been just revealed the fact that neurologists have discovered that the brain area shrinking is related to memory loss. Check out the latest reports about the matter below.
Memory loss and brain area shrinking
Age-related memory loss can take many forms. According to recent research from Harvard, these different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, may be connected to shrinkage in one specific region of the brain.
Alzheimer’s disease affects around 5.8 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it is the most common form of dementia and age-related memory loss. However, it is not the only form.
Scientists have yet to fully understand the direct causes of the disease in most patients.
However, we do know that Alzheimer’s development is associated with the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, such as tau proteins and amyloid plaques, as well as changes in brain structure and function.
In recent years, Alzheimer’s research and drug discovery have seen significant advancements. However, it is crucial to differentiate between Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline in order to ensure prompt delivery of effective treatment.
Bernard Hanseeuw from Harvard Medical School conducted a study that recruited 128 participants with an average age of 72, who had no cognitive issues at the beginning of the study.
The goal of the study was to better comprehend the molecular causes of various diseases.
During the seven-year study period, each participant underwent several types of brain scans, which measured specific biomarkers of Alzheimer’s, such as amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles, as well as the volume of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that’s involved in learning and memory. Additionally, the participants underwent annual cognitive evaluations.
Hippocampus shrinkage was associated with faster cognitive decline, accounting for 10% of the difference, regardless of early Alzheimer’s biomarkers.
