Posted on 06/10/2004 3:42:25 PM PDT by narses
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - US researchers studying the brains of people 26 to 106 years of age have found evidence that brain function starts to slow around age 40. In science journal Nature, Dr. Bruce A. Yankner, from Harvard Medical School (news - web sites) in Boston, and colleagues report that they've identified a set of genes in the brain that show reduced activity after age 40. These genes, they note, play key roles in a variety of cell functions.
According to the team, DNA damage begins to accumulate in these genes. This damage could affect vital brain activities, such as learning and memory. Moreover, this may initiate a program of brain aging "that starts early in life."
The researchers acknowledge that exactly when aging begins and what triggers its onset is "one of the major conundrums of biology." In early adulthood and then again in late adulthood, there is not much difference from one individual to the next regarding gene activity in the brain. In contrast, from 40 to 70 years of age, it's possible to see wide differences in gene activity between two individuals of the same age.
"Thus, individuals may diverge in their rates of aging as they transit through middle age, approaching a stage of 'old age' at different rates," the authors conclude. It will be interesting, they say, to study this relationship in different populations.
SOURCE: Nature, June 9th online issue, 2004.
I hate it when that happens.
I thought it just started to age once you had children. Or maybe it just feels like it.
Me too. First the eyes, then the brain.
Just wait.
(I'm kidding of course. That crap's snake oil)
. . . brain that show reduced activity after age 40 . . .
My kids sure would agree with this (they are 20ish--I'm not)
Yeah, and the sun will rise in the east. Wonder how much was spent on this study?
Perhaps we should leave the research up to scientists under 40...
Brain? Who needs it anyway!
The brain probably does slow down, but it then becomes a matter of quality over quantity, if you were intelligent to begin with!
Hell, I've been beating my brains for years to slow it down!
You know that most scientists who have an actual great idea have it by age 40 or sooner. After that it is a matter of explaining it to year after year forever of college students.
Your Brain....
Use it or lose it.
That is really interesting.
That is really interesting.
Wait a minute.....didn't I already post this comment?
Good things happen to those who delegate (well)!
|
I forgot what I was gonna say. |
When what happens?
Danged CRS attack, again.
This is your brain....
This is your brain on eggs...
I think I remember that right.
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