Brain size study in JAMA Neurology: Good news for Alzheimer’s patients as researchers find a steady increase in brain size over time

New study published in the journal JAMA Neurology suggests that people’s brains are getting larger over time, which could be a positive sign that conditions like Alzheimer’s are improving. Researchers from UC Davis Health Medical Center conducted the study and found that individuals born in the 1970s and later have 6.6% more mass and 15% more surface area compared to those born in the 1930s.

Charles DeCarli, a professor of neurology at UC Davis Health and the study’s author, explained that genetics play a significant role in determining brain size, but external factors such as health, society, culture, and education also have some influence. The researchers examined data from the Framingham Heart Study, which spanned 75 years, analyzing MRI images of over 3,200 individuals born between 1925 and 1968. The findings showed a gradual and steady increase in brain size over time.

The study revealed that brain size and surface area have increased over the years, with additional mass found in the gray matter, white matter, and hippocampus. These brain regions are crucial for memory, learning